Completed in 1952, Poulenc often returned to traditional forms of French church music popular in the Renaissance, such as the motet, that had fallen out of favor in the late eighteenth century. Following the narrative of thenativity, Poulenc intended that the movements be performed together. Includes O magnum mysterium, Quem vidistis pastores dicite, Videntes stellam, Hodie Christus natus est.