Christus Natus Est
Christmas Cantata
(2002 rev. 2003)
Five carol arrangements in an original setting.
Soprano solo (optional), unison children's choir (optional), mixed chorus. There are three accompanying versions: Chamber orchestra [2/1.2.0.1 - 2.0.0.0 - hp - perc - strings] OR brass quintet, organ and percussion (1 player) OR organ.
duration: 15'
1 Personent hodie; 2 Entre le boeuf; 3 Gaudete; 4 Infant Holy; 5 Angelus ad virginem
Oxford University Press
Score cat no X467
First performance December 2003
St Albans Choral Society, St Albans Young Singers, Orchestra Nova/George Vass
Alban Arena, St Albans
CHRISTUS NATUS EST  Personent Hodie Entre le boeuf Gaudete Infant Holy Angelus (from CDLX7146)
Recording: Dutton Epoch CDLX 7146
Review available
| The cantata, Christus natus est, written for mixed chorus, soprano solo and children's choir, presents a sequence of five Christmas carols, all celebrating the birth of Christ. The carols, some familiar, others not, suggest different atmospheres ranging from tenderness to exaltation. McDowall has made use of one of her own original Christmas carols, Of a Rose, to make instrumental links between the five traditional carols and she has re-conceived the harmony of them all.
After the jubilant introduction, the choir sings the Latin carol, Personent Hodie, which tells us that, 'On this day angel's sing, praising Christ who was born to save us.' Following on, the soprano soloist introduces an old French carol, Entre le boeuf, a gentle lullaby to Jesus. 'Between the ox and the ass Jesus sleeps, and a thousand angels keep watch over him.' The next carol, Gaudete!, brings an earthy quality to the cantata. Steeleye Span, with its local St Albans connection, has made this unusual carol familiar. Gaudete! Christus est natus, 'Rejoice! Christ is born!' The harmony, here, brings a medieval bareness to the carol.
This is followed singing the traditional Polish carol, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, in English sung by the children's choir. This is another soft lullaby, encouraging the baby to sleep, surrounded by cattle and hosts of angels. The final, 13th century, carol, Angelus ad virginem, acts as a summary to the whole cantata by re-telling the Christmas story. The cantata's introductory hymn, Personent Hodie, makes another appearance in the final verse as a descant sung by the soprano semi-chorus, and the cantata is then brought to a close with the words, Christus natus est!
The premiere of Christus natus est was given on 8th December 2002, at the Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans, by Abigail Smith, soprano, St Albans Choral Society, St Hilda's School Choir, Harpenden and Orchestra Nova Brass under the direction of George Vass. Christus Natus Est is available on CDLX 7146 (Dutton Epoch) |