Hodie Christus Natus Est from Vidimus Stellam

In the tradition of Daniel Pinkham's Christmas Cantata, Kevin Siegfried's Vidimus stellam (We Have Seen His Star) is a radiant and uplifting work for SATB Chorus and Brass Quintet or Organ. Using traditional Latin texts drawn from Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, Vidimus stellam evocatively traces the theme of Light through the Christmas season. In the choral parts, an expressive lyricism predominates, revealing Siegfried's affinity for chant and early music. A balance between accessibility and challenge is maintained throughout. This is the third movement, Hodie Christus natus, based on the familiar Christmas text, "Today Christ is born, today the Savior has appeared." The movement begins majestically, with the singers declaiming the text against a descending pedal motif. At measure 11 the tempo jumps to "Vivo" and the descending motif dances through the vocal lines. Light, joyful, the organ supports and punctuates, and finally gets the descending melody all to itself as the choir sings "Gloria in excelsis Deo."