At 9:30 PM on Christmas Eve, preceding the 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Eucharist, the Grace Choir will perform Christmas Oratorio of French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921).

Saint-Saëns was just 23 years old when he wrote the piece. It was premiered in the church of La Madeleine in Paris in December of 1858. The thirty minute work will be sung in English and is scored for five soloists, chorus, string quartet, harp and organ. The narrative portion of the text is taken from the second chapter of St. Luke, appears in the second movement and tells the part of the traditional Christmas story involving the shepherds. The remainder of the texts, taken from John, Isaiah, Lamentations, and the Psalms, reflect upon the meaning and significance of the event. The work has been called “a musical enhancement of the words of the Christmas office, without interest in the human drama.”

It is a deeply moving piece both musically and spiritually and remains a treasured work in the Universal Christian Church.

Resources: Das Barenreiter-Magazin, Wikipedia: Oratorio de Noël