On this enticing double-CD collection of Christmas music the Camerata Vocale Freiburg, the Augsburger Domsingknaben, and the Knabenchor Hannover perform carols and other pieces ranging from the 4th century to the present day.

Christmas through the Centuries not only presents music from the mainstream Christmas carol repertoire but also several rarities. One such surprise is considered to be the oldest surviving Nativity hymn of the Christian church, “Veni redemptor gentium” (Come, Redeemer of the Nations) by the 4th-century bishop, Ambrose of Milan. Another is “Verbum caro factum est” (The word was made flesh) in a setting by Ludwig Senffl. It also includes a full-on “Christ-child lullaby” with trumpets and drums in the Austrian Baroque tradition, whilst an old French Christmas song in its traditional form (“Joseph est bien marié”) is contrasted with its Baroque version. The set also features Christmas cantatas, along with the Sinfonia from J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.