The birth of Jesus has been depicted since early

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

, and continues to be interpreted in modern artistic forms. Some of the artforms that have described His Nativity include drama (including television and films) and music (including opera).

Literature

*'' Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ'', Part One (1880)

Drama

*The Nativity appears in many cycles of the

Mystery Plays Mystery plays and miracle plays (they are distinguished as two different forms although the terms are often used interchangeably) are among the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. Medieval mystery plays focused on the represen ...

, dating back to medieval times. *

Laurence Housman Laurence Housman (; 18 July 1865 – 20 February 1959) was an English playwright, writer and illustrator whose career stretched from the 1890s to the 1950s. He studied art in London. He was a younger brother of the poet A. E. Housman and his ...

(''Bethlehem'', 1902; musical accompaniment by Joseph Moorat c.1919). *

Lucjan Rydel Lucjan Rydel, also known as Lucjan Antoni Feliks Rydel (17 May 1870 in Kraków – 8 April 1918 in Bronowice Małe), was a Polish playwright and poet from the Young Poland movement. Life Rydel was the son of Lucjan Rydel, a surgeon, ophthalmolo ...

(''Polish Bethlehem'', 1904). * Cicely Hamilton (''The Child in Flanders: A Nativity Play'', 1922. *

Dorothy L. Sayers Dorothy Leigh Sayers (; 13 June 1893 – 17 December 1957) was an English crime writer and poet. She was also a student of classical and modern languages. She is best known for her mysteries, a series of novels and short stories set between th ...

('' He That Should Come'', 1938). The first play of her radio-play cycle ''

The Man Born to Be King ''The Man Born to Be King'' is a radio drama based on the life of Jesus, produced and broadcast by the BBC during the Second World War. It is a play cycle consisting of twelve plays depicting specific periods in Jesus' life, from the events ...

'' deals with the birth of Jesus. *

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism (and phenomenology), a French playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and lit ...

's first play was ''Bariona ou le fils du tonerre'', a nativity play performed on Christmas Eve 1940 while a

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of w ...

in a German stalag. Sartre saw Christ as part of the Jewish Resistance to the Roman Empire's occupation, mirroring the

French Resistance The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...

of Nazi Germany's occupation.

Opera and musicals

Rutland Boughton Rutland Boughton (23 January 187825 January 1960) was an English composer who became well known in the early 20th century as a composer of opera and choral music. He was also an influential communist activist within the Communist Party of Gre ...

, English composer and founder of the original Glastonbury Festival, wrote a very popular Nativity opera in 1915 called ''Bethlehem''. In 1926, in sympathy with the General Strike and the miners' lockout, he restaged it in London, in modern dress, with Jesus born in a miner's cottage and Herod as the top-hatted capitalist, flanked by soldiers and police.Liner notes to Hyperion Records, Russell Boughton, ''The Immortal Hours''
/ref> *''Two From Galilee'' - A musical of Mary and Joseph leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ *''Amahl and the Night Visitors'' by Gian Carlo Monetti

Film

*'' Ben-Hur'' (1959) recounts the Nativity in its prologue, and Balthasar (a major character) also recounts it in the third person later in the film. *''

The Greatest Story Ever Told ''The Greatest Story Ever Told'' is a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens. It is a retelling of the Biblical account about Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity through to the Ascension. Along with the ensemble cast ...

'' (1965) begins with the Nativity. *''

Monty Python's Life of Brian ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (also known as ''Life of Brian'') is a 1979 British comedy film starring and written by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin). It ...

'' (1978) depicts

Magi Magi (; singular magus ; from Latin '' magus'', cf. fa, مغ ) were priests in Zoroastrianism and the earlier religions of the western Iranians. The earliest known use of the word ''magi'' is in the trilingual inscription written by Darius t ...

at the wrong stable almost giving their gifts to the infant Brian. *''

The Nativity Story ''The Nativity Story'' is a 2006 American biblical drama film based on the nativity of Jesus and directed by Catherine Hardwicke. The film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Hiam Abbass, Shaun Toub, Alexander Siddig, Ciarán Hinds, and Shoh ...

'' (2006) *''

Nativity! ''Nativity!'' is a 2009 British Christmas musical comedy film directed by Debbie Isitt and released on 27 November 2009 and the first instalment in the ''Nativity'' film series. The film stars Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen. In the film te ...

'' (2009) *'' The Star'' (2017)

Television

*A scene in '' A Charlie Brown Christmas'' (1965) shows Linus recounting the Christmas Story involving the Nativity as told in the

Gospel of Luke The Gospel of Luke), or simply Luke (which is also its most common form of abbreviation). tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Together with the Acts of the Apostles, it makes up a two-vol ...

. *'' Jesus of Nazareth'' (1977) begins with the Nativity *'' The Nativity'' (1978) * An episode of the Christian-themed

anime is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...

series '' Superbook'' (1982) involves Chris, Joy, and Gizmo witnessing the Nativity *''The Liverpool Nativity'' produced by

BBC Three BBC Three is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was first launched on 9 February 2003 with programmes targeting 16 to 34-year-olds, covering all genres including animation, comedy, cur ...

in 2007, featuring

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...

's music *'' House'' episode '' It's a Wonderful Lie'' features a clinic patient diagnosed with contagious ecthyma from a donkey, due to her playing the Virgin Mary in a play.

Classical music

See also :Christmas music * Eustache Du Caurroy, 5 variations on "''Une jeune fillette"'' (1610), first Christmas known for instruments. *

Heinrich Schütz Heinrich Schütz (; 6 November 1672) was a German early Baroque composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as one of the most important composers of the 17th century. He ...

, Weihnachts-Historie (Christmas oratorio), 1664 (SWV 435) *

Nicolas Gigault Nicolas Gigault (ca. 1627 – 20 August 1707) was a French Baroque organist and composer. Born into poverty, he quickly rose to fame and high reputation among fellow musicians. His surviving works include the earliest examples of noëls and a volum ...

, ''17 Noëls variés'' (1682). *

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'', ''Marche en rondeau''. This theme is still us ...

, 9 vocal settings and 2 instrumental settings : ** ''Messe de Minuit'' H.9 for soloists, chorus, flutes, strings, and bc (1690) ** ''In nativitatem Domini canticum'' H.314 for 4 voices, 2 flutes, 2 violins, and bc (1670) ** ''Canticum in nativitatem Domini'' H.393 for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments, and bc (1675) ** ''Pastorale de Noël'' H.414 for soloists, chorus, 2 treble instruments, and bc (1683-85) ** ''Oratorio de Noël'' H.416 for soloists, chorus, flutes, strings, and bc (1690) ** ''Dialogus inter angelos et pastores Judae in nativitatem Domini'' H.420 for soloists, chorus, flutes, strings, and bc (1695?) ** ''In nativitatem Domini Nostri Jesu Christi canticum'' H.421 for 3 voices, and bc (1698-99) ** ''Pastorale de Noël'' H.482 for soloists, chorus, 2 treble viols, and bc (1683-85) ** ''Pastorale de Noël'' H.483 H.483 a H.483 b for soloists, chorus, 2 flutes, 2 treble viols, and bc (1683-85) ** ''Noël pour les instruments'' H.531 for flutes, strings, and bc (1688?) ** ''Noël sur les instruments'' H.534 for flutes, strings, and bc (1698) * Sébastien de Brossard ''Messe de Noël'' SdB.5 (1700) *

Nicola Porpora Nicola (or Niccolò) Antonio Porpora (17 August 16863 March 1768) was an Italian composer and teacher of singing of the Baroque music, Baroque era, whose most famous singing students were the castrati Farinelli and Caffarelli (castrato), Caffarel ...

, ''Oratorio de Noël, Il Verbo in Carne'' * Alessandro Scarlatti, ''Oratorio de Noël'' (1705) *

Michel-Richard de Lalande Michel Richard Delalande e Lalande'' (; 15 December 1657 – 18 June 1726) was a French Baroque composer and organist who was in the service of King Louis XIV. He was one of the most important composers of grands motets. He also wrote orch ...

, ''Symphonies de Noël'' S 130 (1727-36 et 1736-45) * Louis Grénon, Messe en Noëls en si bémol majeur *

Carl Heinrich Graun Carl Heinrich Graun (7 May 1704 – 8 August 1759) was a German composer and tenor. Along with Johann Adolph Hasse, he is considered to be the most important German composer of Italian opera of his time. Biography Graun was born in Wahrenbr� ...

, ''Oratorium in Festum Nativitatis Christi'' *

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wo ...

, ''Oratorio de Noël'' BWV 248-I à 248-VI (1734) * André Campra, ''Oratorio de Noël, Nativitas Domini Jesu Christi'' (1710) *

Giuseppe Valentini Giuseppe Valentini (14 December 1681 – November 1753), nicknamed ''Straccioncino'' (Little Ragamuffin), was an Italian violinist, painter, poet, and composer, though he is known chiefly as a composer of inventive instrumental music. He studied ...

, Sinfonia per Santissimo Natales *

Pierre Dandrieu Pierre Dandrieu (d'Andrieu) (baptised in Angers on 21 March 1664 – 20 October 1733) was a French priest, composer and organist. Life Pierre Dandrieu was baptised in Angers. After studying with Lebègue, he held the organ of , now destroyed, ...

publishes in 1714, un ''Livre de 42 Noëls'' for organ (mainly) and harpsichord. * Michel Corette, about Christmas : **''Concerto Spirituel'', 1731. ** ''Pastorale'', 1732. ** ''III Concerto de Noëls'', 1735. ** ''Noëls Suisses'', 1737. ** ''Noël Allemand "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, alle gleich"'', 1741. ** ''Concerto de noëls'', 1754, lost. *

François-Joseph Gossec François-Joseph Gossec (17 January 1734 – 16 February 1829) was a French composer of operas, string quartets, symphonies, and choral works. Life and work The son of a small farmer, Gossec was born at the village of Vergnies, then a French exc ...

, ''La Nativité,'' Oratorio (1774) *

Jean-François Lesueur Jean-François is a French given name. Notable people bearing the given name include: * Jean-François Carenco (born 1952), French politician * Jean-François Champollion (1790–1832), French Egyptologist * Jean-François Clervoy (born 1958), Fr ...

, ''Messe oratorio de Noël'' (1786) * Camille Saint-Saëns, '' Oratorio de Noël o''p. 12 for 5 soloists, chorus, organ, harp and strings (1858) * Hector Berlioz, la trilogie sacrée ''L'Enfance du Christ'' op. 25 (1854) *

Alexandre Guilmant Félix-Alexandre Guilmant (; 12 March 1837 – 29 March 1911) was a French organist and composer. He was the organist of La Trinité from 1871 until 1901. A noted pedagogue, performer, and improviser, Guilmant helped found the Schola Cantor ...

, ''Noëls'' Opus 60 *

Gabriel Pierné Henri Constant Gabriel Pierné (16 August 1863 – 17 July 1937) was a French composer, conductor, pianist and organist. Biography Gabriel Pierné was born in Metz. His family moved to Paris, after Metz and part of Lorraine were annexed to Ger ...

, ''Les Enfants à Bethlehem,'' Mystère en deux parties for soloists, children chorus and Orchestra (1907) *

Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger (; 10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss composer who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. A member of Les Six, his best known work is probably ''Antigone'', composed between 1924 and 1927 t ...

, Une Cantate de Noël * Jean-Michel Cayre, ''Oratorio de Noël'' (1982) *

Witold Lutosławski Witold Roman Lutosławski (; 25 January 1913 – 7 February 1994) was a Polish composer and conductor. Among the major composers of 20th-century classical music, he is "generally regarded as the most significant Polish composer since Szyman ...

, Les ''Chants de Noël polonais'' (1946).

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nativity Of Jesus In Art Cultural depictions of the Nativity of Jesus