"Die Weihnachtsgeschichte" is an inspired and tender piece written in 1935 for 4-part a capella chorus and 4 soloists. A motet opens the work. This choral introduction is rich in complex modal harmonies which evoke ancient, archaic images deep in the mind - "The people who wandered in darkness saw a light, a great light ... unto us a Son has been given whose kingdom is without limit ...". Then the traditional Christmas story is related in free recitative style by various soloists - a Narrator (Evangelist), Mary, Angel, and Herod. Their parts are notated in note heads without stems, which gives much expressive freedom to the singers as well as encouraging the use of natural speech rhythms. There are seven astounding variations on the traditional song "Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen" (A rose did spring up from a tender root) that separate sections of the work. A remarkably beautiful and effective passage occurs when the choir unexpectedly enters simultaneously under Mary's chanted Magnificat, the 3rd variation of the "Es ist ein Ros' ..." chorale beginning at the end of the line "my spirit hath rejoiced ... hath rejoiced ..." (mein Geist freut sich ... freut sich ...). In the fourth variation, the chorus also divides into several parts with the bass voices singing a "cradle song" rocking back and forth on the vocables "Ei-a", while the upper voices continue to sing the melody.The chorus also aids in the narration at very points, notably on the multiply repeated (for emphasis) line "Zu Bethlehem im jüdischen Lande" (To Bethelem in the Jewish countries) - remember that this was a few years after the Nazis had come to power and Distler was sticking his neck out to remind his audience that Jesus was a Jew. A brilliant motet "For God So Loved The World", with several repetitions of the phrase "die an ihn glauben, nicht verloren gehen" (those who believe in him shall not be lost), and Amen chorus conclude the work.

© "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide