The Tallis Scholars, hailed as “the rock stars of Renaissance vocal music” (The New York Times) and founded by Peter Phillips in 1973, bring a traditional Christmas celebration to Chamber Music Maryland. Their performance will showcase three distinct styles: the interpretation of Gregorian Chants by the 12th century abbess Hildegard of Bingen (these are her own compositions); the living Gregorian tradition as shown in settings of the Salve Regina, Ut queant laxis, Magnificat and Nunc dimittis; and as adapted in the medieval popular song In dulci jubilo, and Arvo Pärt's reimagining of this tradition, partly in the Orthodox view. In particular, there is Pärt's Da pacem, where the alto voice quotes a whole chant melody, running from start to finish of the piece. For a thousand years, chant represented all there was of 'classical' music. And it remains second to none in evoking the atmosphere of the great feast days.