The 14th verse of the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John commences with the words “Verbum caro factum est”. This passage, attesting the birth of Christ as the literal embodiment of the word of God, cuts to the very core of Christian doctrine.

I have not tried to embellish or gild the mystery of Christ’s birth, only to reflect the awe and excitement appropriate to an event as magical as a blessed avatar first entering the mundane realm.

Carl Vine, December 2015

Verbum Caro Factum Est was commissioned in memory of Barry Maxwell Moss (1931-2012) by his family and friends for the Arts Foundation of St George’s Cathedral Perth. It was first performed by the choir of the cathedral, conducted by Joseph Nolan, on 20 December 2015.