Christmas music has been around for centuries and belong to our collective memory, bridging popular and serious music. Many composers were inspired to write a Christmas Mass, notably Minoret, Brossard and, famously, Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Michel Corrette’s contribution is less well known but is equally uplifting (and characteristically mischievous).

The Christmas period is also a major source of inspiration for composers of the pastorale. Charpentier is no exception and the opening bars of his pastorale H.421 capture the magic and excitement of Christmas Eve, before moving into a deeply moving song of candid happiness.

Nicolas Bucher will play Daquin’s celebrated Noëls on the new Thomas organ in Saint-Firmin d’Amilly church.

We move into this special time of year, full of potential and promise. As Guillaume Apollinaire said, “Christmas is here – it’s time to light the stars again”.