(Weihnachts-Oratorium)
Bach's Christmas Oratario (Weihnachts-Oratorium) comprises six cantatas originally designed to be sung between Christmas and Epiphany, but now more usually sung in one performance.It is scored for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass Choir and Soprano, Alto Tenor and Bass Soloists. Note Perfect provides Rehearsal Training Aids for the complete work, both for Choir and Soloists.
For performances the continuo part can be a various combination of instruments including cello, bass, bassoon, organ, harpsichord. For our recording we use organ and cello.
Listen to samples selected from Bach Christmas Oratorio Rehearsal Aids.
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Herrscher des Himmels - Choir Soprano
Herrscher des Himmels - Choir Alto
Herrscher des Himmels - Choir Tenor
Herrscher des Himmels - Choir Bass
Herrscher des Himmels - Choir SATB Together
Herrscher des Himmels - Choir Accompaniment
Dein Glanz All Finsternis Verzehrt - Choir Soprano
Dein Glanz All Finsternis Verzehrt - Choir Alto
Dein Glanz All Finsternis Verzehrt - Choir Tenor
Dein Glanz All Finsternis Verzehrt - Choir Bass
Dein Glanz All Finsternis Verzehrt - Choir SATB Together
Dein Glanz All Finsternis Verzehrt - Choir Accompaniment
Wohlan! dein Name soll allein AND Jesu, meine Freud - Solo Bass and Soprano with Assistance
Wohlan! Dein Name soll allein AND Jesu, meine Freud - Solo Bass and Soprano without Assistance
Schließe, mein Herze - Solo Alto with assistance
Schließe, mein Herze - Solo Alto without assistance
Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum - Solo Tenor with assistance
Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum - Solo Tenor without assistance
Was will der Höllen Schrecken - Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Quartet with Assistance
Was will der Höllen Schrecken - Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Quartet without Assistance
The movements for this work are :- Part I: The First Day of Christmas |
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| 1 |
Chorus 1Jauchzet, frohlocket Stand up, be joyful |
6 |
Recitative (Evangelist) Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn And she brought forth her firstborn son |
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| 2 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit And it came to pass in those days |
7 |
Chorale (Sopranos) Recitative
(Bass) Er ist auf Erden kommen arm Wer kanndie die Liebe recht erhöhn In poverty to earth he came What man can calculate the love |
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| 3 |
Recitative (Alto) Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam Behold the Bridegroom |
8 |
Aria (Bass) Großer Herr und starker König Sovereign Lord and King Almighty |
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| 4 |
Aria (Alto) Bereite dich, Zion, mit zärtlichen Trieben Prepare thyself, Sion. |
9 |
Chorale Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein! Ah dearest Jesu child divine |
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| 5 |
Chorale Wie soll ich dich empfangen How can I best admire thee |
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| 10 | Sinfonia | 17 |
Chorale Schaut hin! dort liegt im finstern Stall Behold in yonder gloomy stall |
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| 11 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend And there were in the same country |
18 |
Recitative (Bass) So geht denn hin! So go ye then, ye shepherds go |
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| 12 |
Chorale Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht Break forth O bright and rosy morn |
19 |
Aria (Alto) Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh Slumber Beloved, enjoy thy sweet rest |
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| 13 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor; Angel,
Soprano) Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen Fürchtet euch nicht And the angel said to them |
20 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und alsobald war da bei dem Engel And suddenly there was with the angel |
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| 14 |
Recitative (Bass) Was Gott dem Abraham verheißen What God to Abraham had spoken |
21 |
Chorus Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe Glory to God |
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| 15 |
Aria (Tenor) Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet Rise, O shepherds, rise and praise him |
22 |
Recitative (Bass) So recht, ihr Engel, jauchzt und singet ’Tis right to hear the angels’ singing |
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| 16 |
Recitative (Evangelist or Angel, Tenor or
Soprano) Und das habt zum Zeichen And this shall be a sign to you |
23 |
Chorale Wir singen dir in deinem Heer We sing to thee all glorious Lord |
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| 24 |
Chorus Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen Ruler of Heaven |
31 |
Aria (Alto) Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder Guard, oh my glory |
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| 25 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren And as the angels were gone away |
32 |
Recitative (Alto) Ja! mein Herz soll es bewahren Yes! My heart will keep and cherish |
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| 26 |
Chorus Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem Let us even now go to Bethlehem |
33 |
Chorale Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren King and Master, I will love thee |
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| 27 |
Recitative (Bass) Er hat sein Volk getröst’t He hath his nation blest |
34 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und die Hirten kehren wieder um And the shepherds returned |
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| 28 |
Chorale Dies hat er alles uns getan With us the Lord hath kindly dealt |
35 |
Chorale Seid froh, dieweil Be glad and sing |
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| 29 |
Duet (Soprano, Bass) Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen Lord thy goodness and thy kindness |
24 |
Chorus da capo Herrscher des Himmels, Ruler of Heaven |
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| 30 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und sie kamen eilend And they came with haste |
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| 36 |
Chorus Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben Bow to thank him |
40 |
Recitative (Bass) Arioso (Soprano
or Soprano Choir) Wohlan! dein Name soll allein Jesu, meine Freud’ und Wonne All Hail! Thy name shall all alone Jesu, my delight |
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| 37 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und da acht Tage um waren And when the eight days were accomplished |
41 |
Aria (Tenor) Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben Let me but live to tell my story |
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| 38 |
Recitative (Bass) Arioso (Soprano) Immanuel, o süßes WortJesu Immanuel O blessed name |
42 |
Chorale Jesus richte mein Beginnen Jesu guide my every action |
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| 39 |
Aria (Soprano & ‘Echo’ Soprano) Flößt, mein Heiland Dearest Saviour should reflection |
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| 43 |
Chorus Ehre sei dir, Gott Glory be to God |
49 |
Recitative (Alto) Warum wollt ihr erschrecken Why is here sorrow |
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| 44 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem |
50 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und ließ versammeln alle Hohenpriester Gathered he together |
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| 45 |
Chorus Recitative (Alto) Chorus Wo ist der neugeborne König der Juden Sucht ihn in meiner Brust Where is he that is born King of the Hebrews Seek him within my heart |
51 |
Trio (Soprano, Alto, Tenor.) Ach! wann wird die Zeit erscheinen? Ah! when shall we see him reigning? |
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| 46 |
Chorale Dein Glanz all’ Finsternis verzehrt Thy glory drives all gloom away |
52 |
Recitative (Alto) Mein Liebster herrschet schon My Master Jesus reigns |
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| 47 |
Aria (Bass) Erleucht' auch meine finstre Sinnen Instruct my darkened understanding |
53 |
Chorale Zwar ist solche Herzensstube My poor heart so week and weary |
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| 48 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Da das der König Herodes hörte When Herod the King heard these things |
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| 54 |
Chorus Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben Lord when our haughty foes rejoice |
60 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum' And being warned of God in a dream |
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| 55 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor;
Herod, Bass) Da berief Herodes die Weisen heimlich Ziehet hin und forschet fleißig Then did Herod privily call the wise men Go and search |
61 |
Recitative (Tenor) So geht! Genug, mein Schatz geht nicht von hier Depart? Oh no, my treasure stays with me |
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| 56 |
Recitative (Soprano) Du Falscher, suchet nur den Herrn zu fällen Deceiver! Thou dost hope to find the Lord |
62 |
Aria (Tenor) Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken My foes so proud may try to frighten |
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| 57 |
Aria (Soprano) Nur ein Wink von seinen Händen If the Lord but raise his finger |
63 |
Recitative (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) Was will der Höllen Schrecken nun No more can hells dark force avail |
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| 58 |
Recitative (Evangelist, Tenor) Als sie nun den König gehöret hatten And the wise men when they heard the king |
64 |
Chorale Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen Now Christ hath taken vengeance |
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| 59 |
Chorale Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier Here I beside thy cradle stand |
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