Programs · Episode
Bach Christmas Oratorio
Program: Biscuits & Bach
Aired: Sunday, December 11, 2016 @ 7:00 am
Hosted by Rachel Stewart
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is made up of six cantatas celebrating the different feast days of the season which are meant to be performed over the course of the twelve days of Christmas from Christmas Day to Epiphany. Bach introduced the Christmas Oratorio in Leipzig in 1734, and then the work was left unheard until 1857.
Thankfully, in modern times, we have many wonderful recordings of the work to enjoy. This week we’ll spotlight three of the best from The Netherlands Bach Society, The Academy for Ancient Music, Berlin, and the Leipzig Radio Choir with Staatskapelle Dresden.
We’ll also hear about a Bach performance closer to home when Rachel talks with Christopher Gilliam of Lake Norman Choral Artists and Barbara Krumdieck of North Carolina Baroque Orchestra about their upcoming performance on Friday, December 16, 2016 of Magnificat.
Featured CDs:
Veldhoven, Zomer, Turk, Harvey: Bach: Christmas Oratorio >
Dijkstra, Academy of Ancient Music: J. S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio >
Schreier, Donath, Lipovsek, Et Al: Bach: Christmas Oratorio >
Playlist
7 am | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Toccata in e, BWV 914 Jeffrey Biegel, piano Steinway & Sons 30001 "Bach on a Steinway" | |
| Georg Philipp Telemann · Viola Concerto in G Collegium Musicum 90 Simon Standage, viola Chandos 0593 "Telemann: Music of the Nations" | |
| Josquin Des Prez · "Ave Maria" Chanticleer Teldec 81829 "Chanticleer - Magnificat" | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Orchestral Suite No. 2 in b, BWV 1067 Freiburg Baroque Orchestra Karl Kaiser, flute Harmonia Mundi 902113 "Bach: Orchestral Suites" | |
| Heinrich Schutz · "Hodie Christus natus est" Heinrich Schutz Choir; London String Players; Philip Jones Brass Decca 430065 "A Baroque Christmas" | |
8 am | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Concerto in a for 4 Harpsichords & Strings, BWV 1065 Apollo's Fire Jeannette Sorrell, Michael Sponseller, Janina Ceaser, Paul Jenkins, harpsichords Avie 2211 "Vivaldi & Friends" | |
| William Boyce · Symphony No. 4 in F, Op. 2 Menuhin Festival Orchestra EMI Classics 65730 "Baroque, Vol. 11: Boyce & Arne Symphonies" | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (Part I) (Christmas Day) The Netherlands Bach Society Channel Classics 30809 "Bach: Christmas Oratorio" | |
| Jan Dismas Zelenka · Capriccio No. 1 in D, ZWV 182 Camerata Bern Heinz Holliger, Hans Elhorst, oboes; Barry Tuckwell, Robert Routch, horns Archiv Produktion 423703 "Zelenka: The Orchestral Works" | |
9 am | |
| Marc-Antoine Charpentier · Instrumental Carols Nos. 4 & 9 Les Violons du Roy Sono Luminus 90180 "Simphonies des Noels" | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (Part II) (Annunciation of the Shepherds) Academy for Ancient Music, Berlin; Bavarian Radio Choir Rachel Harnisch, soprano; Anke Vondung, mezzo-soprano; Maximilian Schmitt, tenor; Christian Immler, bass BR Klassik 900512 "Bach: Christmas Oratorio" | |
| George Frideric Handel · "Hallelujah," from Messiah Davidson College Chorale; North Carolina Baroque Orchestra (Live | |
| Nicola Porpora · Cello Concerto in G I Solisti Veneti Susan Moses, cello Erato 88172 "Durante - Pergolesi - Porpora" | |
10 am | |
| Giuseppe Torelli · Christmas Concerto in g, Op. 8, No. 6 Northwest Chamber Orchestra of Seattle Helios 88028 "Baroque Christmas Music" | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (Part III) (Adoration of the Shepherds) Staatskapelle Dresden; Leipzig Radio Choir Philips 000994 902 "Bach: Christmas Oratorio" | |
| Antonio Vivaldi · Oboe Concerto in C, RV 452 New Bach Collegium Musicum, Leipzig Burkhard Glaetzner, oboe; Christine Schorsheim, harpsichord continuo Capriccio 10116 "Vivaldi: Oboe Concertos, vol. 1" | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach · Prelude and Fugue in a, BWV 894 Jeno Jando, piano Naxos 8.5702 91 "JS Bach: Keyboard Music" | |
| Samuel Scheidt · "O Little One Sweet" (harmonized by J.S. Bach) Cambridge Singers Collegium Records 503 "The Christmas Star" | |
| Pietro Locatelli · Pastorale from "Christmas" Concerto in f, Op. 1, No. 8 I Musici Philips 412739 "Christmas Concertos" | |