(SW 1070)

A traditional Christmas carol from the composer’s Silesian homeland appears here in this magical, cleverly worked polyphonic choral movement. The four verses in their key sequence, B flat major - E flat major - F major - B flat major, form harmonic and functionally an authentic cadence.

While in the first verse the three lower parts enter canonically with fragments of the song melody, the discant comes with the cantus firmus from the 4th measure onwards, giving this lateron to the tenor.

In the second verse, the first section of the cantus firmus is performed by a solo contralto, harmoniously embedded in long holding tones from the rest of the chorus.

The second section sounds in tutti, divided among the several parts.

The 3rd verse is then in the dominant, i.e. F major; the cantus firmus is consistently in the tenor.

Arriving again in the basic key of B flat major, this time the basses begin with the cantus firmus in order to pass it on to the tenors, who then pass it on to the lower section of the now divided soprano for the final phrase.

The virtuoso contrapuntal playing with a comparatively simple basic material, coupled with a high degree of ingenuity and care in the execution of the text, also give this movement its typical and unmistakable character for Ridil’s choral art.

Martin Schmeck

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