Schedule
HostsWays to Give
HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsEventsOn DemandOur StoryOur TeamWays to Give Become a Sponsor
How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

Find Us on Social Media:

Logo image

Find Us on Social Media:

Download Our Mobile App:

google play icon

About

HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsOn DemandOur StoryOur Team

Community

EventsWays to Give Become a SponsorPressDiversity StatementCareersAnnual EEO ReportDigital Accessibility

Help

How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

©2025 Classical California

Sweepstakes RulesFCC ComplianceLocal Public FilesCPB ComplianceAnnual EEO ReportPrivacy PolicyCode of Integrity

articles / Chapman Challenge

What Makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto?

Chapman ChallengeChristmasCulture


Classical California's Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it.

Today’s question is from Angela in Westminster who wants to know “What makes a Christmas concerto a Christmas concerto?”

Hit play below to listen to this week’s Chapman Challenge.  
What Makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto?
00:00
  Well, thank you for an interesting and seasonally appropriate question.

A Christmas concerto is a special type of concerto grosso, the “grand concerto” of the Baroque period. A concerto grosso combines a small group of soloists with a larger accompanying orchestra. These groups can play individually or together.

The essential ingredient of a Christmas concerto is a Pastorale, a gentle pastoral movement that represents the shepherds who kept watch over their flocks.

This is the Pastorale from Francesco Manfredini’s Christmas Concerto.

And here’s the Pastorale from what is probably the most famous Christmas Concerto, the one by Arcangelo Corelli.

And that’s what makes a Christmas Concerto a Christmas Concerto.

Chapman ChallengeChristmasCulture
Written by:
Alan Chapman
Alan Chapman
Published on 12.13.2024
Loading...

MORE LIKE THIS

Chapman Challenge: The Story Behind Handel’s “Messiah”

Chapman Challenge: The Story Behind Handel’s “Messiah”

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses Handel's journey with oratorios, from his first encounter in Italy to his profitable English oratorios, culminating in the creation of Messiah.

12/16/2024
What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains why D major is the most common key for a symphony, highlighting its popularity among 18th-century composers like Haydn and Mozart.

03/01/2020
What Happens When a Violinist Breaks a String?

What Happens When a Violinist Breaks a String?

Explore the Chapman Challenge where Alan discusses what happens when a violinist breaks a string during a performance, citing examples from renowned musicians.

11/10/2019
Chapman Challenge: What Is a Rondo?

Chapman Challenge: What Is a Rondo?

Explore the rondo, a popular musical form often used in concertos and symphonies, known for its recurring refrain and contrasting sections. Learn how composers play with its structure for listener enjoyment.

04/01/2019
Chapman Challenge: What Is a Chaconne?

Chapman Challenge: What Is a Chaconne?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan Chapman explains the chaconne, a Baroque musical form built on a repeated series of chords, using Henry Purcell's work as an example.

04/01/2019
Chapman Challenge: What is a Sonata?

Chapman Challenge: What is a Sonata?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan Chapman explains the origin and evolution of the term 'sonata' in music, from its Italian roots to its use in the Classical and Baroque periods.

04/01/2019