This specially priced double CD features a collection of the beautiful and popular music from the Baroque for the Christmas season. Many of the melodies you will hear are familiar seasonal favorites while other lesser-known works will offer you with an enchanting listening experience.

With performances drawn from the Hänssler Classic catalog, featuring the artistry of Helmuth Rilling and his Gächinger Kantorei, the early music specialists Ensemble Musica Poetica Freiburg, Ulrich Stötzel's Collegium Vocale, and several of Europe's most distinguished organ soloists, this beautiful 2-CD collection captures all the moods of the Christmas season – joyous, festive, reflective and spiritual.

Tracks:

1.1 J. S. Bach, Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich 00:45
1.2 J. S. Bach, Jauchzet, ihr Himmel, frohlocket, ihr Engel 03:23
1.3 J. S. Bach, Magnificat anima mea 02:53
1.4 J. S. Bach, Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht 01:05
1.5 J. S. Bach, Zu Bethlehem geboren 01:01
1.6 A. M. Brunckhorst, Sollen wir uns heut nicht freuen 01:32
1.7 P. Nicolai, Zion, hört die Wächter singen 03:51
1.8 A. Hammerschmidt, Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle 04:01
1.9 J. S. Bach, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland 02:47
1.10 J. S. Bach, Wie soll ich dich empfangen 01:18
1.11 G. Schnitter, Sieh nicht an, was du selber bist 04:06
1.12 Ch. H. Rinck, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe 01:44
1.13 A. M. Brunckhorst, Fürchtet euch nicht 00:55
1.14 J. S. Bach, Seid froh, dieweil 00:53
1.15 Es ist ein Ros entsprungen 03:00
1.16 J. S. Bach, Vom Himmel hoch 00:34
1.17 Ch. H. Rinck, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe 00:55
1.18 J. S. Bach, Jauchzet frohlocket 07:25
1.19 P. Gerhardt, Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen 05:05
1.20 A. M. Brunckhorst, Nun zeiget der Himmel die schönsten Gebärden 01:50
1.21 J. S. Bach, Wohl mir, dass ich Jesus habe 03:03
1.22 J. S. Bach, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern 00:46
1.23 Wittenberg, Nun singet and seid froh 03:13
1.24 J. S. Bach, Wir singen dir in deinem Heer 01:11
1.25 J. S. Bach, Uns ist ein Kindlein heut geboren 00:53
1.26 Ch. H. Rinck, Auf, Christen lasst uns unsern Gott 01:31
2.1 A. M. Brunckhorst, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe 00:43
2.2 J. S. Bach, Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ 04:26
2.3 J. G. Herder, O du fröhliche 02:11
2.4 J. S. Bach, Nun seid ihr wohlgerochen 02:58
2.5 G. Joseph, Dies ist die Nacht, da mir erschienen 02:28
2.6 J. S. Bach, Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein 01:09
2.7 J. S. Bach, Gottes Sohn ist kommen 02:44
2.8 J. S. Bach, Dein Glanz aller Finsternis 00:55
2.9 P. Gerhardt, Kommt, and lasst uns Christus ehren 03:50
2.10 J. S. Bach, Gloria in excelsis Deo 06:40
2.11 P. Strauch, Du Kind, zu dieser heilgen Zeit 03:38
2.12 J. S. Bach, Jesus richte mein Beginnen 02:01
2.13 Ch. H. Rinck, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe 04:19
2.14 J. S. Bach, Als der gütige Gott 01:14
2.15 J. S. Bach, Lasst uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem 00:41
2.16 Ch. H. Rinck, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe 00:50
2.17 J. S. Bach, Zwar ist solche Herzensstube 01:11
2.18 J. S. Bach, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland 04:43
2.19 J. S. Bach, Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich 03:10
2.20 Ch. H. Rinck, Nach seinem gnadenvollen Rat 01:09
2.21 Ch. F. Gellert, Dies ist der Tag, den Gott gemacht 03:23
2.22 J. S. Bach, Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren 01:11
2.23 J. S. Bach, Ich steh an deiner Krippe hier 03:45
2.24 J. S. Bach, Nun singet and seid froh 02:19
2.25 J. Mohr, Stille Nacht 02:49

“La Santa Allegrezza,” a tradition of the heart .. From the tradition of Advent and the Novena, the nine days before the birth of Christ, Letizia Fiorenza and David Sautter have collected songs from Campania and Sicily. Striking in these songs are the simplicity and the directness of the lyrics and the music. The story of Jesus' birth, for example, as narrated by the blind Cantastorie in Palermo, is dramatically staged with the same intensity as the famous Rider epics portrayed on the streets of Palermo with the gold-brained Pupi. These songs depict the human side of the Christmas story that is comprehensible to everyone, a dimension that appeals to the heart. We suffer with Mary, fear the shepherds and rejoice with the kings when they finally discover the promised child. A special position is given to Mary, who is shown as a dignified expectant mother, who commands over the water and the serpent, who in her paces the way, crushed with his foot. The selected classical pieces for guitar in contrast to the drama of the songs a contemplative pause.

A children's nativity. Christmas carols and Christmas songs for children with Margaret Howard and children's voices reading Christmas poems. Discover what the ox and the ass really felt, and hear the sheepdog's report on what really happened to the shepherds and their flocks!

This release features Christmas carols from all over the world. From South American rhythms to silent nights, from Italy, England, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Russia, France, Spain, USA, Uruguay and Argentina. Together we want to immerse ourselves in a joyous Christmas season. Everyone connects during this time with their own memories and sensory impressions. In addition to family encounters and festive food, it is also the music that lets us sensually capture the emotions of this time and awaken childhood memories. The spectrum is wide: from soulful, deep intimacy to merry cheering. If we are looking for Christmas carols around the world, the range will be even wider. So we have compiled a variety of Christmas carols, sung in 10 languages, and this edited for the simple cast of vocals and classical guitar. This is a beginning of our "world collection", which will be expanded with songs from other regions of the world. As different as the songs of all the nations on this album are, the content, Christ's birth, brings everyone together. We want to emphasize this solidarity and tolerance during the Christmas season and to revive it. With these songs we wish you a Merry Christmas.

1. Joulun kellot / Softly, Softly 2:39
2. Adeste fideles / Nyt riemuiten tänne 3:09
3. En etsi valtaa, loistoa / We Ask for Nothing Rich or Rare 3:11
4. Kun joulu on / Christmas is Come 2:35
5. Oi, jouluyö / O Holy Night 4:02
6. Kilisee, kilisee kulkunen / Jingling, Jingling Sleigh Bells Ring 2:15
7. Me käymme joulun viettohon / As Christmas Tide is Drawing Near 2:11
8. Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä / Cast off Thy Everyday Cares 1:50
9. On hanget korkeat nietokset / The Shining Snows are Driven High 2:28
10. Panis angelicus / O Lord Most Holy 3:49
11. Santa Lucia 4:02
12. Petteri Punakuono / Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer 2:08
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas / Nyt toivotus hyvän joulun 3:10
14. Jingle Bells / Kulkuset 3:45
15. Talven ihmemaa / Winter Wonderland 2:50
16. Kun joulupukki suukon sai / I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 3:02
17. Joulupukki matkaan jo käy / Santa Claus is Coming to Town 2:39
18. White Christmas / Valkea joulu 2:42

Raimo Sirkiä, tenor
Jyväskylä Sinfonia
Vox Aurea

Pertti Pekkanen, conductor