L'arpa festante, the orchestra on this recording, was founded in 1983 and is known for using appropriate original instruments to reproduce the timbre of works as they were originally intended.
Compositional Technique
Carl Heinrich Graun's church music style is characterized by varied and colorful instrumentation in the arias, such as two bassoons or two horns.
Composer Biography
Carl Heinrich Graun, the composer, became Kapellmeister to Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich the Great in 1740, following him to Berlin upon his coronation.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in co-production with Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting) from December 5-8, 2016, at Himmelfahrtskirche, München-Sendling.
Compositional Technique
Unlike Bach's oratorios, Graun's Christmas Oratorio uses few direct biblical quotes, instead translating scripture into contemplative spiritual poetry and featuring dialogue scenes.
Composition History
Graun's Christmas Oratorio was discovered in the late 1990s as a single known copy in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
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