![]() ![]() Listen nowĪ Cappella Christmas Cantata retells or repeats the familiar story of the birth of Christ but in a new and quite refreshing way. It joyfully proclaims the birth of Christ and the music is chordal in nature with many repetitions of “Gloria in excelsis Deo” and “Alleluia.” The music is declamatory and bursts with enthusiasm as the birth of Christ is celebrated loudly as “just men cry out.” Singing Poulenc is always a rewarding experience although at first sight the music often appears threatening and overly difficult, but once the sound is in the head the end result is always so musically rewarding. Hodie Christus natus est is the antiphon for Christmas day. The music is reserved and simple and homophonic throughout. The words are the antiphon of the Magnificat for Vespers on the second day of the Christmas season. The music is at first almost playful but increases in determination as the shepherds repeatedly demand “Tell us then! Sat what you saw there!’ Videntes stellam brings the Three Kings into the picture. It is an imagined conversation between the shepherds hurrying to the manger and the peasants of the village. Quem vidistis, pastores is a responsory for the first Nocturn of Matins for Christmas day. The text is a responsory for the second Nocturn of Matins on Christmas day. O Magnum Mysterium is the most popular of the four and utilizes Poulenc’s gift of lyric melody and his penchant for poignant harmonic turns to shine light on the hushed awe of humble observers at the birth of Christ. ![]() Each of the motets is dedicated to a different friend or colleague. The music expresses the warmth and joy of the nativity season. Francis Poulenc’s Quatre Motets pour le Temps de Noël ( Four Motets for Christmas) were composed in 1951-52. ![]()
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