Weihnachtsoratorium
Saint-Saëns's Christmas Oratorio (or Oratorio de Noël) was
written in 1858 when he was just 23.
This piece was originally scored
for five Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Harp, String Quartet and Organ; this,
the vocal score, contains a piano reduction.
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.
The English version of the text is by N.H. Dole.
