Hodie Christus natus est

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composer

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)

Cantiones Sacrae, 1619, No 13; SSATB

author of text

Anonymous - liturgical

Magnificat Antiphon at Vespers for the Nativity

Introduction
English

The late-Renaissance composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck succeeded his father as organist at the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, where he spent his entire career. Immensely influential as a teacher, with Samuel Scheidt numbering amongst his pupils, he was ultimately accorded the distinction—like J S Bach in Leipzig—of being honoured with burial inside the church with which he became synonymous. Hodie Christus natus est is endlessly inventive, juxtaposing multiple rhythmic tableaux, and punctuated by the cyclic opening (sometimes inverted) which serves as a miniature rondo, the whole imbued with joyful cascades of ‘noes’ and ‘alleluias’.

Recordings

Sacred treasures of Christmas

The London Oratory Schola Cantorum, Charles Cole (conductor)

Studio Master: CDA68358Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

A celebration of Christmas across sixteenth-century Europe: Renaissance polyphony at its finest.» More

Sweelinck: Cantiones Sacrae, Vol. 1

Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Richard Marlow (conductor)

CDA67103Archive Service

‘An important recording landmark’ (Gramophone)
‘Richard Marlow and his youthful choir deserve credit not just for salvaging this music but for presenting it in such vital and responsive performance ...» More

The Cambridge Singers Christmas Album

The Cambridge Singers, John Rutter (conductor)

CSCD512Download only

John Rutter selects some of his favourite Christmas carols, old and new, from classic Cambridge Singers recordings, including several of his own arrangements and never-before-released gems, closing with Vaughan Williams’ majestic 'Fantasia on Chri ...» More