IDAGIO | J.S. Bach: In tempore Nativitatis - Christmas Cantatas BWV 110, 151, 63 5414939997891

Featuring

Philippe Pierlot
Stephan MacLeod
Carlos Mena
Julian Prégardien
Maria Keohane
Ricercar Consort

Johann Sebastian Bach

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Composition History

Bach's surviving music for the three days of Christmas includes ten cantatas, in addition to three cantatas found in his Christmas Oratorio.

Historical Context

Lutherans, including Johann Sebastian Bach, celebrated Christmas with splendor not only on December 25th but also on the two following days, similar to Catholic traditions of the time.

Performer Biography

Philippe Pierlot, the conductor, studied viola da gamba with Wieland Kuijken and is a professor at the Conservatories of Brussels and The Hague.

Compositional Technique

The cantata 'Unser Mund sei voll Lachens' BWV 110 reuses the first movement of Bach's instrumental Suite for orchestra no.4 in D major BWV 1069, adding a choral fugue to create a triptych.

Performer Biography

The Ricercar Consort, led by Philippe Pierlot, gained international renown for German Baroque cantatas and instrumental music, recording about fifty discs, including complete works by lesser-known composers.

Compositional Technique

The cantata 'Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kommt' BWV 151 features a 'Molt' adagio' tempo indication, which is rare in Bach's works.

Compositional Technique

The cantata 'Christen, ätzet diesen Tag' BWV 63, originally from Bach's Weimar years, was revised for Leipzig, making the organ's participation obligatory to provide more powerful instrumental support.