Emma’s composition on the old Dutch text “Lof sy dat soete kindeken cleyn” was performed on Christmas Eve by the Pancras Consort as part of a Christmas broadcast on Unity TV from the Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden.
Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas!
Emma is delighted to feature again in the BBC Radio Nottingham’s Christmas Carol Service. Due to the lockdown, the BBC were unable to record a live service so they have chosen highlights from previous years. Emma was touched that her performance of ‘O Holy Night’ in 2017 was chosen as one of the highlights.
The carol service will be broadcast at 17:00 (UK time) on Christmas Eve and 10:00 (UK time) on Christmas Day, and it will be available afterwards on BBC Sounds and the BBC website.
Emma will feature in the Christmas Eve service of the Bethelkerk in Scheveningen, together with Maryse Kuiper (flute) and Marcel van Duyvenvoorde (piano), performing classical repertoire. The service includes pre-recorded performances from artists with a link to the church, including a pop choir, a singer-songwriter, and songs from the children in the congregation. The service is led by Ds. Gerco Lock. It promises to be a warm and uplifting broadcast.
Please note that the spoken language is Dutch.
20:00 (Dutch time), via this link
Emma is part of the project “Leiden viert Kerstmis” (Leiden celebrates Christmas), an online project to celebrate Christmas. She recorded Christmas music with bass Hans Brons and organist / pianist Anton Doornhein, which will be broadcast on Unity TV on Christmas Eve.
For readers outside of the Netherlands, here is one of the songs:
Her composition “Lof Sy dat Soete Kindeken Cleyn” will be included in the Dutch-language Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve, also on Unity TV.
For more information, please visit the “Leiden viert Kerstmis” website.
Photo: Ronald Hartsuiker
Emma was honoured to have sung at the funeral of Dutch veteran Paul Moerman. At age 104, he was the oldest Dutch veteran of the Second World War. He fought at the Battle of Ypenburg, eighty years ago. Emma met him at several veterans’ events, where he wore a placque with the names of his fallen companions.
The funeral, which was held at his church, had a strong military attendance including military pallbearers. Emma sang ‘Abide with Me’ as the coffin was carried out of the church. At the grave, the Taptoe Signal was played and we had a minute of silence. At the end of the ceremony, Emma sang ‘We’ll Meet Again.’
Rest in peace, Mr. Moerman.
Photo: Jacqueline Bouts
Each year, on the second Sunday of December, candles are lit around the world to remember the children who died. Here in Leiden, Xenia Hospice organises an annual ceremony to remember the children. Relatives and friends are invited to light a candle and the names of the children are read aloud.
This year’s ceremony was broadcast from the Academy of the University of Leiden. Relatives and friends sent pre-recorded messages and photographs of the children for whom the candles were lit. It was very moving indeed to hear the personal messages and see the photographs.
Emma sang ‘Memory’ from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Cats’ and ‘Silent Night.’ The duo Windstreken played beautiful, reflective music, and the city poet, Marianne van Velzen, read a poem she wrote especially for the event.
Photo: Kathinka de Ruiter
Emma is delighted to have been invited to sing for the Leidse Binnenstadsgemeente’s ‘Lichtpuntjes’ (points of light) for Advent. She will be part of a series of four videos for each Sunday of Advent. Members of the congretation will read prayers written by the minister, Ds. Margreet Klokke, and Emma will sing the Gregorian Chant introit for the Sunday. The producer is Kathinka de Ruiter.
The films can be seen on the Leidse Binnenstadsgemeente’s YouTube channel.