Cantica Nativitatis: Ten Centuries of Christmas Music

A thousand years of Christmas, brought to life in song.

From the quiet beauty of Gregorian chant to the soaring melody of Cantique de Noël, discover how Christmas has sounded across ten centuries.

Join historian and tenor Richard Franklin Donohue at Stanley-Whitman House for Cantica Nativitatis: Ten Centuries of Christmas Music, an intimate afternoon of live performance and the stories behind the songs.

Spanning the tenth through nineteenth centuries, the program brings together familiar and lesser-known selections sung in their original languages: Basque, German, Latin, Middle English, French, and Modern English. Hear the expressive power of the unaccompanied voice alongside the distinctive sound of the harpsichord.

Through music and historical interpretation, Donohue traces the changing celebration of Christmas across generations. Each selection offers a different encounter with the season, inviting listeners to hear beyond the familiar holiday repertoire and discover traditions carried through centuries of song.

Whether you are an early-music enthusiast or simply looking for a beautiful way to begin December, this performance offers an opportunity to listen closely, discover something new, and share the pleasures of the season.

Sunday, December 6, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 PM
Check-in begins at 1:45 PM
Stanley-Whitman House
37 High Street, Farmington, CT 06032

Reserve your place and experience Christmas across the centuries.

Suggested Donation / Pay What You Can

Suggested contributions are $20 for general admission and $15 for S-WH members. You are welcome to contribute another amount, and free registration is available if cost is a barrier.

Your generosity supports our presenters and helps keep museum programs accessible. If you are able to give more, your additional contribution helps support access for others.

Please register for each person attending, including guests selecting free admission.

About the Performer

Richard Franklin Donohue is a tenor, historian, and music instructor whose repertoire ranges from Middle English carols to nineteenth-century Romantic music. He has taught piano, voice, and music theory since 1992 and serves as Town Historian of Cromwell, Connecticut. His programs bring musical performance and historical research together to illuminate the people and traditions behind the music.

Parking and Arrival

Free parking is available in the museum lot and across High Street, with additional parking at the Barney Library, 71 Main Street. Please allow time to walk to the museum and check in before the performance.

About Stanley-Whitman House

Stanley-Whitman House is a National Historic Landmark museum and living history center in Farmington, Connecticut. Through research, interpretation, and participatory learning, the museum connects visitors with the lives and stories of early Farmington. It operates under the nonprofit Farmington Village Green & Library Association.

Support the Museum

A year-end gift helps sustain education, community programs, and the preservation of this National Historic Landmark. Make a gift to Stanley-Whitman House.