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.
1. Christmas Oratorio: Part I: Jauchzet, Frohlocket 2. Christmas Oratorio: Part I: Bereite Dich, Zion 3. Christmas Oratorio: Part I: Wie Soll Ich Dich Empfangen 4. Christmas Oratorio: Part I: Grosser Herr Und Starker Konig 5. Christmas Oratorio: Part I: Ach, Mein Herzliebes Jesulein! 6. Christmas Oratorio: Part II: Sinfonia 7. Christmas Oratorio: Part II: Brich An, O Schones Morgenlicht 8. Christmas Oratorio: Part II: Schlafe, Mein Liebster 9. Christmas Oratorio: Part II: Wir Singen Dir in Deinem Heer 10. Christmas Oratorio: Part III: Herrscher Des Himmels 11. Christmas Oratorio: Part III: Herr, Dein Mitleid, Dein Erbarmen 12. Christmas Oratorio: Part IV: Flosst, Mein Heiland 13. Christmas Oratorio: Part IV: Ich Will Nur Dir Zu Ehren Leben 14. Christmas Oratorio: Part V: Dein Glanz All' Finsternis Verzehrt 15. Christmas Oratorio: Part V: Ach, Wann Wird Die Zeit Erscheinen? 16. Christmas Oratorio: Part VI: Ich Steh' An Deiner Krippen Hier 17. Christmas Oratorio: Part VI: Nun Seid Ihr Wohl Gerochen
