Charles Downey writes up the December concert series by the Folger Consort:
Most of the program was anchored around the reign of King Henry VIII (1509-1547), a monarch who loved music, who composed and sang as well as being a patron. Of the three selections credited to Henry in this concert, the lovely carol Green Groweth the Holly stood out from the others. The best instrumental selections were arranged for three recorders, like the anonymous Ave rex angelorum and the arrangement of Christ Church Bells, with its opening repeated note motif meant to evoke tintinnabulation. Fa la sol, arranged for two recorders and violin, was also charming, the work of William Cornysh, one of Henry VIII's best chapel musicians.Plus, the Folger Consort revives older music for new-to-you carols. Price wise, it's a more reasonable candidate than the Kennedy Center's Nutcracker Suite for an annual holiday music tradition, and I've been in the market for one of those. No threat of black snowflakes, either.
