The Christmas Oratorio (German: Weihnachts-Oratorium), BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 and incorporates music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a now lost church cantata, BWV 248a. The date is confirmed in Bach's autograph manuscript. The next performance was not until 17 December 1857 by the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin under Eduard Grell. The Christmas Oratorio is a particularly sophisticated example of parody music. The author of the text is unknown, although a likely collaborator was Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander).
Librettist | Picander (= Christian Friedrich Henrici, 1700–1764) |
Date of composition | 1734 |
Premiered | December 1734 |
First published | 1856 (Bach Gesellschaft Ausgabe) |
Type | Oratorio |
Catalogue | BWV 248 |
Spoken language | German |
Instruments |
Voice
Chorus/Choir Orchestra |
Links | |
Autotranslations beta |
Jean-Sébastien Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 |