Bach, J.S.: Christmas Oratorio (Highlights)

$13.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
October 1, 1999
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH J.S.
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra, Hungarian Radio Choir
    • PERFORMER
      Ju, Jozsef, Nemeth, Ingrid, Mukk, Kertesi
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      October 01, 1999
    • UPC
      636943450826
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8554508
    • LABEL
      Naxos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Christmas / Chanukkah
    Works ⌄

    1. Part I: Jauchzet, frohlocket

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    2. Part I: Bereite dich, Zion

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Performer: Judit Nemeth

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    3. Part I: Wie soll ich dich empfangen

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    4. Part I: Grosser Herr und starker Konig

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Performer: Janos Tóth

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    5. Part I: Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein!

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    6. Part II: Sinfonia

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    7. Part II: Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    8. Part II: Schlafe, mein Liebster

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Performer: Judit Nemeth

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    9. Part II: Wir singen dir in deinem Heer

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    10. Part III: Herrscher des Himmels

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    11. Part III: Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Performer: Ingrid Kertesi, Janos Tóth

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    12. Part IV: Flosst, mein Heiland

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Performer: Ingrid Kertesi

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    13. Part IV: Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Performer: József Mukk

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    14. Part V: Dein Glanz all' Finsternis verzehrt

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    15. Part V: Ach, wann wird die Zeit erscheinen?

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Performer: Ingrid Kertesi, Judit Nemeth, József Mukk

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    16. Part VI: Ich steh' an deiner Krippen hier

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank

    17. Part VI: Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Hungarian Radio Choir, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra

      Conductor: Géza Oberfrank


Bach's Christmas Oratorio consists of six cantatas, the first of which was first performed at Christmas in 1734 at the town church of Leipzig, the Nikolaikirche, in the morning, with an afternoon performance at the Tomaskirche. The second part was performed on 26th December, in the morning at the Tomaskirche and in the afternoon at the Nikolaikirche, while the third was performed only at the Nikolaikirche on 27th December. The fourth part was performed first on 1st January 1735, the Feast of the Circumcision, at the Tomaskirche and in the afternoon at the Nikolaikirche, while the fifth for the first Sunday of the New Year, 2nd January, was only performed in the morning at the Nikolaikirche. The sixth part was given two performances on 6th January, the Feast of the Epiphany, first at the Tomaskirche and then at the larger Nikolaikirche. Although the work makes considerable use of music originally composed for other purposes, the cycle was clearly conceived as a unified work, to which the elaboration of the first chorale at the end of the sixth part bears witness. The impression is enforced by choice of keys and formal structure, in spite of the original intention of performance of each part on a different day during the twelve days of Christmas. The first three parts deal with Christmas itself, the birth of Christ and the message to the shepherds at Bethlehem. The Evangelist intervenes only once in the fourth part to mention the circumcision and naming of Jesus. In the fifth are the reactions of the Wise Men to Bethlehem, their departure ending the Evangelist's account. The instruments used in the Christmas Oratorio include the ubiquitous four part string orchestra, with a keyboard continuo part for organ, the bass line doubled by cello and bassoon. Transverse flutes, rather than recorders, are used in some movements while the oboes used include pairs of ordinary oboes as well as pairs of the alto and tenor of the family, the oboe d'amore and the oboe da caccia. Brass instruments include three natural trumpets, their melodic parts restricted by their nature to the brilliant upper clarino register. Timpani make their due appearance with the trumpets. Two natural horns, corni da caccia, make a brief appearance in two numbers in the fourth part. There are four vocal soloists, soprano, alto, tenor and bass.