Da ward geborn ein Kind

The motet 'Da ward geborn ein Kind' by the composer and choir director Peter Paul Förster from Wuppertal is based on words from Ezzolied. This multi-verse poem on the miracles of Christ, written by the canon Ezzo from Bamberg in 1083, marked the beginning of early Middle High German literature.

From this poem, Förster took verses on the birth of Christ and the praise to Mary and turned them into a singable choral work for mixed choir (SATB) and organ the tonal language of which can be 'placed between archaic church mode and modern music'.

Förster's fondness of Gregorian quotes becomes apparent in the repeated use of the Gregorian chorale 'Puer natus est nobis'. A musical Christmas gem for (church) choirs at an advanced level.