Anne Azéma (voice) and Shira Kammen (strings) are leaders in the field of medieval singing and accompaniment. Each has recorded prolifically and toured worldwide; together, they devote their enormous skill, insight, and fantasy to the magnificent repertoires of medieval France, Provence, and Spain. French-born Azéma brings authentic language skills, a crystalline voice, and a gift for theatre; Kammen brings virtuoso technique on vielle, rebec, and harp, as well as her famous flair, drive, and humor. This program has music by Anonymous, Gauthier de Coincy (1177/8-1236), Thibault de Champagne (1201-1253), in praise of the Queen of Heaven in the most elegant and subtle style; while anonymous minstrels transform the songs of the day into vigorous, toe-tapping spirituals, all in the service of the narration of the Christmas story.