A meeting between Christmas traditions in England and Flanders. Flemish seasonal songs get a touch of English colour while British carols are seasoned with some of the Burgundian Flemish spirit. A magical programme which is interwoven with Christmas stories from both sides of the Channel.

Many Flemish Christmas songs have their origin in the Middle Ages and are often intensely charming expressions of popular devotion. Carols are certainly very British, but besides the Nativity story itself they also have a lot in common with the Flemish repertoire: cradling songs, or mixed language songs with a Latin chorus for example, or instrumental preludes which were called 'Symphonies'.

In this new and original project English and Flemish songs alternate and sometimes merge, they are sung a cappella as well as accompanied by instruments such as lutes, guitars, viols and fiddles and even hurdy-gurdies and bagpipes.

"...Light the candles, sit close by the fire and wallow in the aural gorgeousness of Coope, Boyes, Simpson, Fraser, Freya and Boyes." BBC Radio 2.
“Rans and the others are musicians in heart and soul ” De Standaard

Barry Coope : voice
Jim Boyes : voice, guitar
Lester Simpson : voice, bagpipes
Fi Fraser : voice, fiddle
Jo Freya :voice, tin whistle
Georgina Boyes : voice

Paul Rans : voice and lute

Philippe Malfeyt : lutes, Theorbo, baroque guitar, hammered dulcimer

Piet Stryckers : viol, cello, fiddle, hurdy-gurdy

Paul Van Loey : recorders, tin whistle, dulcian