| JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750) "Weihnachtsoratorium" Cantata No. 1 (Am ersten Weihanchtsfeiertage) BWV246 for choir, soloists, 2 trumpets, timpani, 2 transverse flutes, 2 oboes, 2 oboe d'amore, strings, and basso continuo No 1. Coro: "Jauchzet, frohlocket!" Performed by Concentus Musicus Wien & the Arnold Schoenberg Chor Featuring Christine Schafer, soprano Bernarda Fink, alto Werner Gura, tenor Gerald Finley, bass Christian Gerthaher, bass Directed by Nicholas Harnoncourt *Recorded in 2007 **The Christmas Oratorio (German: Weihnachtsoratorium) BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 incorporating music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a now lost church cantata, BWV 248a. The date is confirmed in Bach's autograph manuscript. The next performance was not until 17 December 1857 by the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin under Eduard Grell. The Christmas Oratorio is a particularly sophisticated example of the parody technique. The author of the text is unknown, although a likely collaborator was Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander). |