Allen, Brett L: Nativity Scenes: Suite for string orchestra (Full score)

"I was deeply moved on hearing this work in performance for the first time. Amid all the crass commercialism of our day, amid all the scoffing as to the likelihood of a virgin birth, angels appearing to shepherds, wise men guided by a star, and so forth, here comes a composer, American Brett Lensley Allen, to present the story in such a fresh context - it's like you are a child hearing the story for the first time. The work is not sentimental or sugary. It has rigorous aspects, including the "inconvenient truth" of Herod's sinister attempt to destroy the Christ child. This work does a lot to bring Christmas back to its primal roots, for which we can all be grateful. "

Rating:    11/25/2009