Christmas Story (Schütz)

The Christmas Story (German: Weihnachtshistorie), SWV 435, is a sacred vocal work by Heinrich Schütz, composed in 1660 and first published in 1664. It narrates the biblical Nativity story as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Unlike many settings of the Nativity narrative that focus on a continuous musical texture, Schütz's Christmas Story employs a distinctive structure. It consists of an Evangelist (tenor) who recites the biblical narrative in a secco recitative style. This narrative framework is punctuated by independent motets, or Intermedien, which are scored for various combinations of voices and instruments. These Intermedien represent the words and actions of different characters or groups within the story, such as the angels, the shepherds, the wise men, and Herod. The Intermedien offer contrasting musical styles, ranging from simple chorales to more elaborate concertato settings.

The work calls for a varied instrumental ensemble, including recorders, flutes, trumpets, trombones, violins, and continuo. The instrumentation and vocal scoring within each Intermedium are tailored to the specific dramatic context of the scene being depicted.

Schütz's Christmas Story is considered a significant contribution to the development of the oratorio form and is notable for its effective use of dramatic contrast and vivid musical depictions of the biblical narrative. Its structure, with the Evangelist serving as the central storyteller and the interspersed Intermedien providing moments of reflection and dramatic action, is a hallmark of Schütz's style and a powerful vehicle for conveying the Christmas story.