The Christmas Oratorio opens with a Prelude subtitled 'In the style
of Sebastian Bach' harkening back to Bach's Christmas Oratorio. This
opening prelude sets the scene for the Christmas story: its lilting
pastoral quality creates images of the shepherds tending their flocks
in the fields. In the remaining movements, the vocal soloists take
turns representing different characters such as the narrator of the
story or as the angel who announces the birth of the baby Jesus while
the chorus represents a multitude of angels singing to the glory of
the Lord. The final movement of the piece, which follows the model of
old French Christmas songs, is a virtual hymn of praise of all
creation in the presence of God. |