rning the sheep and the
goats, the interview between the ruler and the people, and the former's
anger with Nicodemus, the sufferings and death of Christ, and the
resurrection and joy of the disciples as they glorify God and sing the
praises of their risen Master.

The work opens with a prologue chorus ("There shall come forth a Rod out
of the Stem of Jesse"), at the close of which the "Bethlehem" scene
begins. It is preluded with a quiet but effective pastoral movement for
the orchestra, a tenor recitative ("There were Shepherds abiding in the
Field"), and a contralto solo announcing the heavenly message to the
Shepherds, which lead up to a spirited "Gloria" by the sopranos and
altos, followed by a chorus of the Shepherds ("Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem") for male voices. A Shepherd, in brief recitative passages,
declares to Mary, "Blessed art thou among Women," followed by the soprano
solo, "My Soul doth magnify the Lord." After the Virgin's expression of
thanks, the Shepherds join in the chorus, "The whole Earth is at rest,"
which is peculiarly striking in its contrasts. A short recitative by the
Angel, warning Mary to flee into Egypt, is followed by a very sombre
chorus ("In Rama was there a Voice"). At its close, the tenor is heard in
a tender aria ("Refrain thy Voice from weeping"), leading to a chorus
full of spirited harmony, and rising to a very effective climax ("I will
pour My Spirit"), which closes the scene.

The "Nazareth" scene opens with a baritone solo ("The Spirit of the Lord
is upon me"), in which Jesus declares himself in the synagogue as the
object of the prophecy from Isaiah which he has been reading. The Jews
answer in a very dramatic chorus ("Whence hath this Man his Wisdom?").
Again Jesus interposes with the declaration, "A prophet is not without
honor save in his own country;" whereupon the people break out in a still
more dramatic chorus ("Is not this Jesus?"), set to a very effective
accompaniment. For the third time Jesus declares himself, followed by the
stirring, furious chorus, "Why hear ye him?" A tender and at times fervid
solo ("Lord, who hath believed our Report?") leads to a very effective
quintet ("Doubtless Thou art our Father"). After another brief baritone
solo ("Blessed are they"), we come to the chorus, "He maketh the Sun to
rise," which is one of the most beautifully written in the work, and
closes the scene.

The third scene, "Lazarus," begins with the description of the