• Orchestra of the Bach Society of Minnesota
• VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
• Nicholas Chalmers, Evangelist
• Matthias Maute, conductor
• Philip Brunelle, conductor

• Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata I (First Day of Christmas-Birth of Jesus)
• Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40
• Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata IV (First Sunday after New Year-Journey of the Magi)
• Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Cantata VI (Feast of Epiphany-The Adoration of the Magi)

• This is the third time the Bach Society of Minnesota and VocalEssence have collaborated to perform Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the first time that they will perform Cantata IV, which is the only cantata in the piece that uses Baroque Horns in the orchestration.

• J.S. Bach’s (1685−1750) Christmas Oratorio was written to be performed on the six feast days of Christmas at St. Thomas and St. Nicholas churches in Leipzig beginning on December 25, 1734 with Cantata I and finishing on January 6, 1735 with Cantata VI.

• When Bach died in 1750, his music was considered old-fashioned. It was only when Felix Mendelssohn performed St. Matthew Passion in 1829 that a Bach revival took place, and his music was more frequently performed during the 19th century. This revival helped pave the way for the tradition of performing the Christmas Oratorio during the Christmas season.

• Perhaps the most important musical element in Bach’s sacred choral music, and certainly in the Christmas Oratorio, is the chorale. The chorale was introduced into church services by Martin Luther to allow the congregation to take an active part in the musical worship: they have simple hymn-like melodies that were harmonized by the choir or the organ.

• The Christmas Oratorio, contains music that Bach had already composed. He adapted several earlier secular works that were written for royalty or notable figures and repurposed them. Essentially, Bach parodied himself!

• Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes was written for the Second Day of Christmas, December 26, 1723. It was Bach’s first Christmas cantata that was composed and performed at Leipzig at St. Thomas and St. Nicholas churches.

Click on the button below to enjoy a past performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio