The Christmas Story
with host Lisa Simeone

At the very heart of Christmas is the story of the birth of Jesus--a story so beautiful and powerful that it has inspired more music than any other event in history. This edition of Milestones of the Millennium is a musical portrait of the nativity, from Jesus's birth to the holy family's flight to Egypt, featuring music composed from medieval times through the present. Join host Lisa Simeone as she looks at the biblical tale that has inspired countless composers through the ages, and highlights the music written in celebration of the birth of Jesus.

The story of Christ's birth begins with the Annunciation, when Mary learns from the angel Gabriel that she will conceive and give birth to Jesus. The story of the Annunciation is set to music in the first of fifteen "Mystery Sonatas" by early Baroque composer Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber. We hear the opening sonata, "The Annunciation," in a beautiful rendition performed by members of Musica Antiqua of Cologne that captures much of the mystery of Gabriel's visitation.

In recounting the Annunciation, St. Luke wrote that Mary was at first "troubled" by the news of her conception, but during her subsequent meeting with Elisabeth said "my soul doth magnify the Lord," fully accepting her role as the mother of Jesus. Mary's words have been set to music by composers many times, and are part of the opening chorus of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Magnificat," performed here by members of La Chapelle Royale and Collegium Vocale.

The simplicity of the baby Jesus's birth in a manger, surrounded by animals and with nothing to cover him but swaddling clothes, has inspired poets and artists as well as composers. The poet William Blake wrote "The Lamb" in an effort to capture this poignant scene, and his simple poem was later set to music in a haunting and reverent composition by John Tavener. We hear the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge bring this timeless music to life.

The birth of the infant Jesus in a lowly manger has always been a source of wonder and mystery, embodied in the ancient chant "O Magnum Mysterium." The words were set to music by the foremost composer of the Renaissance, Tomas Luis de Victoria of Spain, in a composition that expresses the mystery of Christ's birth. The Choir of Westminster Cathedral, directed by David Hill, performs this lovely, prayer-like piece.

Shortly after Christ is born, the shepherds are told of His glorious coming as they tend their flocks. Several Baroque composers have written instrumental pieces that evoke this tender pastoral scene. You will undoubtedly recognize the final two movements of the "Christmas Concerto" by the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli, performed here by the English Concert with Trevor Pinnock. We also learn that Handel's "Messiah" may have been influenced by earlier pastoral writings as we listen to the Gabrieli Consort perform Handel's "Pastoral Symphony" and "Glory to God in the Highest."

The ancient chant "Resonet in Laudibus" means "sound forth in praise," and expresses the joy of the shepherds in the fields upon hearing of the birth of Christ. Two settings of this Latin text are performed by the vocal ensemble Pomerium, one that remains anonymous and another by late Renaissance German composer Christian Erbach.

American clergyman John Henry Hopkins was inspired by the story of the three wise men who traveled from afar to pay tribute to the baby Jesus. Hopkins wrote "Three Kings of the Orient," more popularly known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are." This very pretty choral version of the piece is performed by the Taverner Consort and Choir, led by Andrew Parrott.

But the birth of Jesus was not a happy event for everyone who heard of it. King Herod feared Jesus, and the holy family was forced to flee Bethlehem for Egypt to protect the small child. Their dramatic flight into Egypt was depicted in the central section of the grand oratorio of French composer Hector Berlioz, entitled "L'Enfance du Christ," or "The Childhood of Christ."

We hear the Overture performed by the Monteverdi Choir and the Lyon Opera Orchestra, followed by the "Chorus of the Shepherds," which evokes the moment when the shepherds gather around Jesus in the manger to say farewell. As they mourn the fact that Jesus must flee, the shepherds ask the angels to protect him in his journey.

Listen as host Lisa Simeone tells the story of the birth of Jesus--the story of Christmas--through the music it inspired! (This stereo audio segment requires the free RealPlayer 5.0 or higher. You can also listen with a 14.4 connection)