Cum natus esset Jesus

Christoph Thomas Walliser's motet Cum natus esset Jesus sets a passage from the Gospel of Luke describing the Nativity. This substantial sacred work is written for a double choir of SSAT and ATBB, offering rich polyphonic possibilities. The Latin text recounts the appearance of angels to the shepherds, announcing the birth of Jesus and praising God with "Gloria in excelsis Deo". It continues with the shepherds' decision to visit the infant and their hurried journey to Bethlehem where they find Mary, Joseph, and the child. Walliser's setting emphasizes the narrative's dramatic and devotional aspects through its eight-part texture.