To watch the complete Venice in Winter, CLICK HERE

To listen to the audio only, or to download the MP3 audio file 

to PC or Android,  CLICK HERE.

For a thousand years, the glory of Venice has inspired countless generations of visitors.  The churches, the magnificent buildings, the plazas and canals of Venice are vibrant, living memorials to the city’s fabulous history.   

To visit Venice is to experience the finest artistic expression of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Its architecture, sculpture, frescos and paintings are among the finest in the world.  For centuries, the genius of Tintoretto, Canaletto, Palladio and many others have enriched us all beyond measure.  

The city of Venice represents a priceless heritage, unique in all the world.


M.M. Ray and D. Ellicott Ray

Venice in Winter is a tour of Venice featuring original orchestral and choral compositions. The music and video reflect the history and magnificent sights of the “City of Canals.” 

To view the complete Venice in Winter, click the thumbnail at left.  To watch a chapter, click one of the chapter thumbnails below.

Venice in Winter is scored for voices (SATB chorus and boys’ choir; and tenor, soprano and boy soloists); strings (18 violins, 8 violas, 8 cellos, 6 double basses), brass (6 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones,1 tuba), woodwinds (3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 flutes, piccolo, bassoon, contrabassoon), bells, and timpani.


Part 1: The Prelude is the first of 9 parts, and includes Choral Prelude in F# Minor.  This piece and all other music in Venice in Winter was composed and orchestrated by Ellicott Ray.

Part 2 includes: 

The Teatro La Finice (Opera House)

Canals in fog

The Doge Palace

Part 2 is accompanied by Fantasy in B Major (Ellicott Ray).

Part 3 features a tour of Ca’ Rezzsonico, one of the great palazzos on the Grand Canal.  

The original music is Marchia di Vittoria Lepanto (Ellicott Ray). Written as a Renaissance march, the new piece commemorates the victory of Venice and the Holy League in the 1571 Battle of Lepanto. 

Part 4 includes:   

   Chiesa de San Georgio Magggiore

   Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari

   Basilica Cathedral Patriarchale di San Marco


   The music is Lux Paschae in F# Minor (Ellicott Ray).

Part 5 includes:

Chiesa di San Giuliano

Chiesa del Santissimo Rendentore

Chiesa di San Rocco

Santa Maria della Salute

    Part 5 is accompanied by Fantasy in B Major (Ellicott Ray).

Part 6 includes: 

Santa Maria di Nazareth

Basilica San Giovanni e Paolo

Santa Maria di Maracoli

The accompanying music is Et Revertetur Christi for orchestra and chorus   (Ellicott Ray).


Part 7 features an afternoon and evening tour of the canals of Venice.

The music is Elegy for Strings in Eb. The Elegy subsequently reappears

 in the 7th movement of Ellicott Ray's Requiem Mass, where it is scored for

 boys' choir.     CLICK HERE TO COMPARE VERSIONS



Part 8, “La Città dei Canali,” is accompanied by the Orchestral Coda in E Major (Ellicott Ray).



Part 9 of Venice in Winter concludes with “Images of Venice.”

The video is accompanied by Adagio in C Minor (Ellicott Ray).

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