An exploration of the six cantatas performed in Leipzig’s St. Thomas and St. Nicholas churches in December 1734. These six Bach cantatas were written to correspond with the days of the Lutheran church year, and are collectively referred to as the “Christmas Oratorio”. We start the week with Cantata No. 1 (For the First Day of Christmas) and we will end with Cantata No. 6 for Epiphany.
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
Playlist
Episode 1
J.S. Bach: Cantata No. 1 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 1st day of Christmas
Monte-verdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio / Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
0:24:33
J.S. Bach: Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005
Hilary Hahn, v.
Hilary Hahn Plays Bach
Sony 62793
0:25:09
Episode 2
J.S. Bach: Cantata No. 2 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 2nd day of Christmas
Monte-verdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio / Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
0:26:51
J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C BWV 1009
Pierre Fournier, vc.
Bach: 6 Suites for Solo Cello / Pierre Fournier
DG 449711
22:54
Episode 3
J.S. Bach: Cantata No. 3 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 3rd day of Christmas
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir/ Koopman; Larrson, s.;
Von Magnus, a.; Pre-gardien, t.; Mertens, b.
Bach: Christmas Oratorio / Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque
Erato 14635
22:13, 3:39
J.S. Bach: Orches-tral Suite No. 2, BWV 1067
Berlin Baroque Soloists/Kussmaul; Pahud, fl.
Brandenburg concerto NO.5 – Orchestral suite NO.2 – Trio sonata – Partita
EMI 57111
19:27
J.S. Bach: “Erfreute Zeit” fr. Cantata No. 83
Venice Baroque Orch./ Marcon; Kirchsch-lager, s.
Bach Arias
Sony 89924
6:47
Episode 4
J.S. Bach: Cantata No. 4 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 4th day of Christmas
Rundfunk-chor Leipzig & Staats-kapelle Dresden/ Schreier
Weihnachtsoratorium
Phil 420204
22:44
J.S. Bach: Sonata No. 1 for Viola da Gamba and Keyboard, BWV 1027
Rose, vc. Gould, p.
Sonatas For Violin & Harpsichord BWV 1014-1019 /
Sonatas For Viola Da Gamba & Harpisichord BWV 1027-1029
Sony 52615
13:04
J.S. Bach/ arr. Stokowski: Passacag-lia and fugue in d minor, BWV 565
Stokowski Symphony Orchestra
Bach • Stokowski
EMI 66385
13:39
Episode 5
J.S. Bach: Cantatas 5 & 6 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 5th and 6th days of Christmas
English Baroque Soloists & the Monte-verdi Choir/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio / Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
21:18, 22:54
J.S. Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV 1043, II
Academy of Ancient Music/ Manze; Manze, Podger, vlns.
Solo & Double Violin Concertos
HM 907155
6:30
