On Thursday, December 25th, Christmas Day, the programme On Cloud Nine will feature “El canto de la Sibila,” which describes the Last Judgment and the coming of the Saviour. The song “Juicio fuerte será dado” is based on this song and will be performed by the Dutch ensemble Música Temprana.
“El canto de la Sibila” is based on a poem supposedly passed down by the Greco-Roman prophetess Sibyl. Her image can be seen in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The song is still traditionally performed on Christmas Eve.
Because women were not allowed to sing in church, the song was sung by a boy dressed in liturgical robes and holding a menacing sword aloft throughout the entire chant (see photo). The Latin text was usually translated into the vernacular. Spanish, Catalan, and Sardinian versions of the song exist.
Listen to this carol, which was recognized as an Intangible World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010, and experience the spirituality of the Middle Ages. This hour also features English Christmas carols from the Elizabethan era, performed by the British viol consort Fretwork.
Broadcasts:
Thursday, December 25th, 2025, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
