Three Byzantine mosaics, to be seen in churches in Venice and Palermo inspired Franco Cesarini to compose this work. He took the musical motives from Gregorian chants. The mosaics concerned depict the following extracts from "The Gospel According to St. Matthew".
I. The Nativity: The Magi from the East: "Where is the new-born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and we have come to worship Him."
II. The Temple of Jerusalem: And look! The curtain secluding the Holiest Place in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom: and the earth shook and rocks broke, and tombs opened and many godly men and women who had died, come back to life again.
III. Angel of the Resurrection: An angel of the Lord come down from heaven drew near, rolled away the stone and sat upon it. His countenance was lightning and his attire white as snow.
Duration: 19:45
