dᵻskɹˈaɪbd æz ˈeɪ "nɐtˈɪvᵻɾi ˌɔːɹətˈoːɹɪˌoʊ", ɪt ɹᵻtˈɛlz ðə kɹˈɪsməs stˈoːɹi, wɪððə fˈɜːst hˈæf fˈoʊkəsɪŋ ˌɔn mˈɛɹiz θˈɔːts bᵻfˌoːɹ ðə bˈɜːθ ɪnðə stˈeɪbəl ɪn bˈɛθlɛhəm, ænd ðə sˈɛkənd hˈæf kˈʌvɚɹɪŋ ðɪ ˈæftɚmˌæθ ʌvðə bˈɜːθ, hˈɛɹədz slˈɔːɾɚɹ ʌvðə hˈoʊli ˈɪnəsənts, ænd ðɪ ˈɜːli lˈaɪf ʌv dʒˈiːzəs.
Described as a "nativity oratorio", it retells the Christmas story, with the first half focusing on Mary's thoughts before the birth in the stable in Bethlehem, and the second half covering the aftermath of the birth, Herod's slaughter of the Holy Innocents, and the early life of Jesus.