THE Llangattock-based Unicorn Singers will be bringing a concert of music embracing the Christmas message to Abergavenny’s Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady and St Michael’s on Sunday, December 9th at 8pm.

The concert, entitled ‘O Radiant Dawn’ offers what the 30-strong choir calls a ‘Cornucopia of carols from across the centuries’.

The concert will feature hushed moments of close harmony, courtesy of such composers as Howells (Sing Lullaby), Whitacre (Lux Aurumque) and Macmillan (O Radiant Dawn), as well as epic canvases with organ by Jonathan Dove (Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars).

Unicorn’s aim is to bring to light refreshing and often neglected music and their programme also mines a rich seam of polyphonic pieces from the sixteenth century.

Motets by past masters telling the Christmas story will include settings by Gabrieli, Sweelinck, Guerrero, Hassler, plus a carol by Praetorius specially edited for the choir for this concert.

For good measure, the singers throw in some original medieval carols from Britain and Italy, some hearty folk songs from New England and a few well known favourites.

The choir state the concert should provide the perfect antidote to the excesses of Christmas commercialisation; the Unicorn Singers hope to live up to their symbolic name and create a little bit of Christmas magic for all.

Tickets are £12 (students free) from choir members or the website at www.unicornsingers.co.uk. The Choir will also perform at Llangattock on December 23rd at 7.30pm.