The Christmas Oratorio 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 Eduar...(+)
The Christmas Oratorio 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 parody music. The author of the text is unknown,
although a likely collaborator was Christian Friedrich
Henrici (Picander).
It was conceived as a set of six cantatas. Unlike the
Passion settings and the oratorios of Bach's exact
contemporary Handel, the six parts of his Christmas
Oratorio were performed on
separate days. Bach wrote the six cantatas to celebrate
the whole period of the Christmas festivities of
1734-35, starting with Part I on Christmas Day, and
ending with Part VI on Epiphany
(January 6th). The performances were divided between
his two churches: Parts I, II, IV and VI were given at
the Thomaskirche, and Parts III and V at the
Nicolaikirche.
Bach wrote the Christmas Oratorio over a short period.
Unusually for him, but perhaps by necessity, he
recycled music from earlier compositions. At least
eleven sections have been
identified as coming from three earlier secular
cantatas, with Bach working with his frequent
collaborator Picander to alter the texts for their new
use. It is thought that several more
sections may be based on lost sacred works, including
the documented but now lost St Mark Passion. Bach also
composed new music for much of the piece, including all
of the recitatives and
chorales.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Oratorio).
I created this arrangement of the Evangelista & Chorus:
"Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend/Brich an, o
schönes Morgenlicht" (And there were shepherds in the
Fields/Break forth, o lovely light of morning) for
String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
PARTITION