Bach’s Christmas Oratorio

December 26, 2022, 7:00 pm

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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.

Playlist

Episode 1

Bach, JS: Cantata No. 1 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 1st day of Christmas
Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio – Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
24:33

Bach, JS: Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005
Hilary Hahn, violin
Hilary Hahn Plays Bach
Sony 62793
25:09

Bach, JS: Cantata No. 1 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 1st day of Christmas (excerpt)
Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio – Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
1:04

Episode 2

Bach, JS: Cantata No. 2 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 2nd day of Christmas
Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio – Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
26:51

Bach, JS: Suite No. 3 in C BWV 1009
Pierre Fournier, violoncello
Bach: 6 Suites for Solo Cello – Pierre Fournier
DG 449711
22:54

Bach, JS: Suite No. 3 in C BWV 1009 Allemande (excerpt)
Pierre Fournier, violoncello
Bach: 6 Suites for Solo Cello – Pierre Fournier
DG 449711
1:24

Episode 3

Bach, JS: Cantata No. 3 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 3rd day of Christmas
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir/ Koopman; Larsson, soprano;
Von Magnus, alto; Pregardien, tenor; Mertens, bass
Bach: Christmas Oratorio – Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque
Erato 14635
22:13

Bach, J.S.: Orchestral Suite No. 2, BWV 1067
Berlin Baroque Soloists/ Kussmaul; Pahud, flute
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 – Orchestral suite NO.2 – Trio sonata – Partita
EMI 57111
19:27

Bach, J.S.: Cantata No. 83 “Erfreute Zeit”
Venice Baroque Orchestra/ Marcon; Kirchsch-lager, soprano
Bach Arias
Sony 89924
6:47

Bach, JS: Cantata No. 3 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 3rd day of Christmas
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir/ Koopman; Larsson, soprano;
Von Magnus, alto; Pregardien, tenor; Mertens, bass
Bach: Christmas Oratorio / Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque
Erato 14635
3:39 

Episode 4

Bach, JS: Cantata No. 4 from the Christmas Oratorio- For the 4th day of Christmas
Rundfunkchor Leipzig and Staatskapelle Dresden/ Schreier
Weihnachtsoratorium
Phil 420204
22:44

Bach, JS: Sonata No. 1 for Viola da Gamba and Keyboard, BWV 1027
Rose, violoncello Gould, piano
Sonatas For Violin & Harpsichord BWV 1014-1019 /
Sonatas For Viola Da Gamba & Harpisichord BWV 1027-1029
Sony 52615
13:04

JS Bach/ arr. Stokowski: Passacaglia and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565
Stokowski Symphony Orchestra
Bach • Stokowski
EMI 66385
13:39

Episode 5

Bach, JS: Cantatas 5 from the Christmas Oratorio – For the 5th days of Christmas
English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio /Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
21:18

Bach, JS: Cantatas 6 from the Christmas Oratorio – For the 6th days of Christmas
English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir/ Gardiner
Bach: Christmas Oratorio – Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Archiv 423232
22:54

Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV 1043, II. Largo ma non tanto
Academy of Ancient Music/Manze; Manze, Podger, violins
Solo and Double Violin Concertos
HM 907155
6:30