Music of James Woodman:
A Midwife’s Tale (1996) – commissioned by The Boston Cecilia
Blake’s Cradle Song (2009) – Premiere performance
Divinum mysterium (2008)
Magnificat (1993)
Plus music of Spain, England, and Colonial America

The Starlit Birth, Cecilia’s annual salute to the Christmas season in two performances, features a revival of James Woodman’s A Midwife’s Tale, commissioned and first performed by Boston Cecilia in 1996. Complementing this work will be additional pieces by Woodman—his Magnificat and two recent Carols:Divinum mysterium and Blake’s Cradle Song—alongside carol settings by Spanish, English, and American Colonial composers. 

A Midwife’s Tale sets excerpts from the Arundel Manuscript, a collection of legends about the life of Christ which dates from the 8th century and earlier, featuring the tale of Zachel, a midwife enlisted by Joseph to attend to Mary at the time of Christ’s birth.  

In programming the three 16th century Spanish carols, Teeters observes the 50th anniversary of early music performance pioneer Noah Greenberg's publication of the arrangements.

American Colonial works include music of William Billings, James Stephenson, Abraham Wood, and William Knapp. Billings (1746-1800), who lived his whole life in Boston, is considered a father of American choral music. Popular in his own time, he enjoys renewed popularity today. The unique and beautiful sounds of these early American composers are a stirring interpretation of traditional Christmas imagery.

Read the program notes from Cecilia's original performance of A Midwife’s Tale!