Christmas Oratorio in Full Score

by Johann Sebastian Bach

Composed for celebrations from Christmas to Epiphany and first produced in Leipzig in 1734–35, Bach's Christmas Oratorio unfolds movingly in a set of six cantatas unified by a single narrative recounting the birth of Christ. Traditional passages from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew are presented in recitative, interspersed with arias and choruses that provide powerful emotional and contemplative responses to the story.
Among the most famous segments of the Christmas Oratorio are the great opening chorus, "Jauchzet, frohlocket!" the beautiful pastoral Sinfonia, the bass aria "Grosser Herr, und starker König," the alto aria "Schlafe, mein Liebster" and the closing chorus, "Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen." This masterpiece of sacred music, for centuries a favorite of concert audiences and church congregations throughout the Christmas season, has been reproduced directly from the authoritative Bach-Gesellschaft edition published by Breitkopf & Härtel.

Genres: Music

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1984

About the author

Johann Sebastian Bach (21 March 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period.

He wrote more than two hundred cantatas, the Saint Matthew Passion , the Mass in B Minor , orchestras, such as the six Brandenburg Concertos , chamber ensembles, and numerous works for organ, harpsichord, other solo instruments.

Bach fathered noted Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, and Johann Christian Bach.

Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia arranged his works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_...