This most tremendous
tale of all
This Most tremendous Tale of All is a setting of an excerpt from Sir John Betjeman’s poem, “Christmas”. The text, taken from the sixth stanza of the poem, contrasts God, the awe-inspiring ‘maker of the stars and sea’ against the humble intimacy of the nativity scene.
The piece was commissioned by Contrepoint in 2024 for their Christmas carol concert. Here you can hear the premiere performance in the Chapter House at Hereford Cathedral in November 2024.
And is it true? And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall ?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me ?
- Sir John Betjeman, “Christmas” (excerpt)