Cantata pastorale is a Christmas cantata. These were written specifically for the nativity of Christ, and performed at the Vatican in Rome, and throughout the city. They often used pastoral imagery in telling the story of the birth of Christ. At that time, the shepherds would come down from the Abruzzi mountains on Christmas and play before the Creche. Their instruments included the piffero and the zampogna, which sounded much like the bagpipes and the shawm. Often Christams cantatas contain these instruments, or attempt to imitate them. The accompaniment in this cantata is for strings and continuo, and features a prominent viola part. For solo voice, it is built around the recitative plus aria combination.



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