Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 | St. Thomas Choir & Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

A unique blend of joy and contemplation is what continues to make Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio so beloved today. Performed by the St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, it creates the perfect festive atmosphere. Interestingly, Bach originally wrote some of the melodies for entirely different, non-Christmas purposes. This performance was conducted by Gotthold Schwarz on December 15, 2018, at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig.

(00:00) Opening credits
(01:19) Part I: Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage (Shout for joy, exult, rise up, praise the day)
(26:41) Part II: Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend (And there were shepherds in the same environs)
(54:26) Part III: Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen (Ruler of heaven, hear our babble)
(1:17:31) Part IV: Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben (Fall with thanks, fall with praise)
(1:40:06) Part V: Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen (Let honour be sung to You, O God)
(2:04:00) Part VI: Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben (Lord, when our insolent enemies snort)

DOROTHEE MIELDS | Soprano
ELVIRA BILL | Alto
MARKUS SCHÄFER | Tenor (Arias)
PATRICK GRAHL | Tenor (Evangelist)
KLAUS HÄGER | Bass

ST. THOMAS CHOIR LEIPZIG
LEIPZIG GEWANDHAUS ORCHESTRA
GOTTHOLD SCHWARZ | Conductor

In Baroque music, it was common practice to rework one’s own pieces, as well as those by other composers. During his time as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, from 1723 to 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach often added sacred texts to his secular cantatas. In the Christmas Oratorio, the excitement lies in the details. The Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) consists of six cantatas that were originally performed individually in Leipzig between Christmas Day on December 25 and Epiphany on January 6. The Christmas story surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ is presented through arias, recitatives and choruses based on the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.

Who would have thought that Bach composed his famous opening chorus "Jauchzet, frohlocket" ("Shout for joy, exult") — a hymn of praise to God — just one year earlier as a musical birthday greeting for the Electress of Saxony, Maria Josepha? In the original secular cantata "Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!" (BWV 214), the choir sang in honor of the Electress. In the Christmas Oratorio, Bach reused the same music with the new text "Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage" ("Shout for joy, exult, rise up, praise the day") to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Bach also uses another secular homage from 1733 in the Christmas Oratorio. He composed his cantata "Herkules" (Hercules at the Crossroads, BWV 213) for the birthday of the young Prince Frederick of Saxony. The mythical Greek hero must choose between virtue and the vice of lust. In the end, he naturally follows virtue, even though lust tempts him with soothing words in the soprano aria "Sleep, my beloved, and cherish your rest." "Taste the pleasure of the lustful breast and know no bounds," it says. In the Christmas Oratorio, this aria with the same title is reinterpreted as a lullaby for the baby Jesus, who feeds at his mother's breast.

Johann Sebastian Bach premiered the Christmas Oratorio in Leipzig in 1734 with the St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig. As Thomaskantor, he directed the choir from 1723 until his death in 1750. The St. Thomas Choir, founded in 1212, is one of the oldest boys’ choirs in the world. Gotthold Schwarz was the 17th Thomaskantor after Bach and led the ensemble from 2016 to 2021. The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, founded in 1743 as the oldest civic orchestra, regularly performs with the St. Thomas Choir at masses and concerts.

Watch more great concerts here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBV5A14dyRWy1KSkwcG8LEey

in our Christmas playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBXmY6H2WxPci2FYvlBTGjzT

in our Bach playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUIGIm71zRFbYPJMQ-ETiMT

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