Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)

Title Weihnachtsoratorium
Alternative title Christmas Oratorio
Creators Johann Sebastian Bach, composer
Opus BWV 248
Instrumentation soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra
Number of movements 64
Keys
Composed 1734
First published 1856
Dedication ; ; ; ; /;
Tempo markings
Metronome markings
Time signatures
Average duration (sec) 9300
Number of measures
Composition types Sacred oratorios, Sacred cantatas
Language German
Period Baroque
View
Code

Sections

Arrangements

Details Section Arranged for Arranger
View Selections 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones and tuba Michel Rondeau
View Selections oboe, English horn, bass oboe and bassoon
View Selections piano and harmonium August Reinhard
View Aria: 'Bereite dich, Zion' (No.4) violin and piano Peter Bækgaard
View Chorale: 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ' (No.7) organ Peter Bækgaard
View Aria: 'Grosser Herr und starker König' (No.8) bass and organ Rob Peters
View Chorale: 'Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein' (No.9) mixed chorus, 3 trumpets, timpani, strings and organ Michael Stenov
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) orchestra Robert Franz
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) 8 recorders R.D. Tennent
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) 4 recorders Maximilian Olschewski
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) oboe, English horn, bass oboe and bassoon
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) organ William Thomas Best
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) organ Sigfrid Karg-Elert
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) piano Walter Niemann
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) piano Arthur Willner
View Choral: 'Brich an o schönes Morgenlicht' (No.12) strings Herbert S. Gardner
View Choral: 'Brich an o schönes Morgenlicht' (No.12) 4 viols Albert Folop
View Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her (No.17) 4 recorders Christian Mondrup
View Schlafe, mein Liebster (No.19) cello and piano Philipp Roth
View Schlafe, mein Liebster (No.19) organ William Joseph Westbrook
View Schlafe, mein Liebster (No.19) piano Arthur Willner
View Wir singen dir in deinem Heer (No.23) piano Arthur Willner
View Wir singen dir in deinem Heer (No.23) piano right hand Hiroyuki Tanaka
View Herrscher des Himmels (No.24) 4 trumpets, 3 trombones and tuba Stefan Adams
View Herrscher des Himmels (No.24) organ Fabio Rigali
View Aria: 'Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder' (No.31) organ Alain Brunet
View Chor: 'Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben' (No.36) organ William Thomas Best
View Aria: 'Flößt, mein Heiland, flößt dein Namen' (No.39) organ Pierre Gouin
View Chorale: 'Jesus richte mein Beginnen' (No.42) trumpet and organ Michel Rondeau
View Coro: 'Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen' (No.43) 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos Russ Bartoli
View Chorus: 'Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben' (No.54) 5 trumpets and 3 trombones Stefan Adams
View Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (No.64) horn, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones and tuba Stefan Adams
View Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (No.64) trumpet and organ Jonas Vincent Spanier
View Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (No.64) organ Jørgen Ellegård Frederiksen

Scores

Details Section Type Publisher Date File (click to view)
View Complete Manuscript 1734 Complete Score
I. Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
II. Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend
III. Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen
IV. Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben
V. Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen
VI. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
Cover pages
View Complete Complete Score
I. Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
II. Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend
III. Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen
IV. Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben
V. Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen
VI. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
View Complete Complete Score
View Complete Complete Score
I. Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
II. Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend
III. Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen
IV. Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben
V. Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen
VI. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
View Complete selections Autograph Manuscript Nos.9-11
View Complete selections Fritz Brodersen 36. Fallt mit Loben, fallt mit Danken
42. Jesus richte mein Beginnen
43. Ehre sei dir Gott gesungen
54. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
64. Nun seid Ihr wohl gerochen
Engraving files (Capella)
View Complete selections I. Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
II. Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend
View Complete selections Jamie Holdham 2020 64. Chorale: Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen.
View Complete parts Manuscript 1734 1. Theil
2. Theil
3. Theil
4. Theil
5. Theil
6. Theil
View Complete parts Manuscript Complete Parts
View Complete parts Manuscript Complete Parts (1. Theil)
Complete Parts (2. Theil)
Complete Parts (3. Theil)
Complete Parts (4. Theil)
Complete Parts (5. Theil)
Complete Parts (6. Theil)
View Complete parts Breitkopf und Härtel Flute 1, 2
Oboe 1, 2 (both also Oboe d'amore (A), Oboe da caccia (F))
Bassoon 1, 2
Horn 1, 2 (F)
Trumpet 1, 2, 3 (D)
Timpani
Violins I
Violins II
Violas
Cellos/Basses
Continuo (Harpsichord)
Organ
View Complete parts Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Oboe da caccia 1
Oboe da caccia 2
English Horn
Corno da caccia 1
Corno da caccia 2
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trumpet 3
Timpani
Violins I
Violins II
Violas
Continuo (Bassoons/Cellos/Basses/Keyboard)
View Complete parts Oboe/Oboe d'amore 1 (Parts I-III)
Oboe 1 (Parts IV-VI)
Oboe/Oboe d'amore 2 (Parts I-III)
Oboe 2 (Parts IV-VI)
View Complete parts,selections Fritz Brodersen 36. Fallt mit Loben, fallt mit Danken
42. Jesus richte mein Beginnen
43. Ehre sei dir Gott gesungen
54. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
64. Nun seid Ihr wohl gerochen
View Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage (Teil I Nos.1-9) parts Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trumpet 3
Timpani
Violins I
Violins II
Violas
Continuo
View Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend (Teil II Nos.10-23) parts Flute 1
Flute 1
Oboe d'amore 1
Oboe d'amore 2
Oboe da caccia 1
Oboe da caccia 2
Violins I
Violins II
Violas
Continuo
View Aria (Tenor): 'Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben' (Teil IV No.41) parts Violin I
Violin II
View Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (Teil V No.64) parts Choral Score
Trumpet 1, 2 (High A)
Trumpet 3 (C)
Timpani
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Violins I
Violins II
Violins III
Violas
Cellos/Basses/Bassoon
Organ
View Complete vocal score Bote & Bock 1857 Complete score
Color cover
View Complete vocal score Breitkopf und Härtel Complete Score
View Complete vocal score Edition Peters Complete Score
View Complete vocal score Choudens Complete Score
View Complete selections,vocal score Collection of 10 chorales
View Complete selections,vocal score Complete Score (Nos.12, 17)
View Coro: 'Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf preiset die Tage' (No.1) vocal score Edition Peters Piano accompaniment
View Aria: 'Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh' (No.19) vocal score Complete Score
View Ich steh' an deiner Krippen hier (No.59) vocal score Jürgen Knuth Complete Score
Engraving files (Capella)
View Complete selections 12. Choral: 'Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht' (Textless)
12. Choral: 'Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht' (Textless, Alternate Title Only)
17. Choral: 'Schaut hin, dort liegt im finstern Stall' (Textless)
28. Choral: 'Dies hat er alles uns getan' (Textless)
33. Choral: 'Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren' (Textless)
35. Choral: 'Seid froh dieweil' (Textless)
42. Chorale: 'Jesus richte mein Beginnen' (Textless)
46. Choral: 'Dein Glanz all' Finsternis verzehrt' (Textless)
53. Choral: 'Zwar ist solche Herzensstube' (Textless)
59. Choral: 'Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier' (Textless)
64. Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (Textless)
View Complete selections 5. Choral: 'Wie soll ich dich empfangen?' (Textless)
9. Chorale: 'Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein' (Textless)
12. Choral: 'Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht' (Textless)
12. Choral: 'Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht' (Textless, Alternate Title Only)
23. Chorale: 'Wir singen dir in deinem Heer' (Textless)
33. Choral: 'Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren' (Textless)
35. Choral: 'Seid froh dieweil' (Textless)
42. Chorale: 'Jesus richte mein Beginnen' (Textless)
46. Choral: 'Dein Glanz all' Finsternis verzehrt' (Textless)
53. Chorale: 'Zwar ist solche Herzensstube' (Textless)
59. Choral: 'Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier' (Textless)
View Complete Arrangement for 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones and tuba
by Michel Rondeau
; selections
Michel Rondeau 2019 Nos.17, 23 - Complete Score and Parts
Engraving files (Finale & XML)
View Complete Arrangement for oboe, English horn, bass oboe and bassoon; selections Selected chorales - Complete Parts
View Complete Arrangement for piano and harmonium
by August Reinhard
; selections
Edition Peters Sinfonia (No.10) and Choral (No.23)
View Aria: 'Bereite dich, Zion' (No.4) Arrangement for violin and piano
by Peter Bækgaard
Complete Score
Transcription Information
Engraving files (Finale)
View Chorale: 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ' (No.7) Arrangement for organ
by Peter Bækgaard
Complete Score (tune in left hand)
Complete Score (tune in left hand - transposed to F major)
Complete Score (tune in pedal)
Complete Score (tune in pedal - transposed to F major)
Transcription Information
Engraving files (Finale)
View Aria: 'Grosser Herr und starker König' (No.8) Arrangement for bass and organ
by Rob Peters
Complete Score (D major, with pedal)
Complete Score (D major, manualiter)
Complete Score (C major, with pedal)
Complete Score (C major, manualiter)
View Chorale: 'Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein' (No.9) Arrangement for mixed chorus, 3 trumpets, timpani, strings and organ
by Michael Stenov
Complete Score
Choral Score
Trumpet 1, 2, 3
Timpani
Violins I
Violins II
Violas
Cellos/Basses
Organ
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for orchestra
by Robert Franz
F.E.C. Leuckart Complete Score
Color Cover
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for 8 recorders
by R.D. Tennent
Complete Score
Complete Parts
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for 4 recorders
by Maximilian Olschewski
Complete Score and Parts
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for oboe, English horn, bass oboe and bassoon Complete Parts
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for organ
by William Thomas Best
Novello Complete Score
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for organ
by Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Carl Simon 1910 Complete Score
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for piano
by Walter Niemann
C.F. Kahnt Complete Score
View Sinfonia ''Pastoral Symphony'' (No.10) Arrangement for piano
by Arthur Willner
Universal Edition Complete Score
View Choral: 'Brich an o schönes Morgenlicht' (No.12) Arrangement for strings
by Herbert S. Gardner
Complete Score and Parts
View Choral: 'Brich an o schönes Morgenlicht' (No.12) Arrangement for 4 viols
by Albert Folop
Complete Score and Parts
Engraving files (Personal composer)
View Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her (No.17) Arrangement for 4 recorders
by Christian Mondrup
Complete Score
Recorder notation score
Engraving files (Mup)
View Schlafe, mein Liebster (No.19) Arrangement for cello and piano
by Philipp Roth
Breitkopf und Härtel Complete Score
Cello Part
View Schlafe, mein Liebster (No.19) Arrangement for organ
by William Joseph Westbrook
Schott Complete Score
Complete Score
View Schlafe, mein Liebster (No.19) Arrangement for piano
by Arthur Willner
Universal Edition Complete Score
View Wir singen dir in deinem Heer (No.23) Arrangement for piano
by Arthur Willner
Universal Edition Complete Score
View Wir singen dir in deinem Heer (No.23) Arrangement for piano right hand
by Hiroyuki Tanaka
Complete Score
View Herrscher des Himmels (No.24) Arrangement for 4 trumpets, 3 trombones and tuba
by Stefan Adams
Complete Score
Trumpet 1/2/3/4 (B)
Trumpet 1/2/3/4 (C)
Trombone 1/2/3/Tuba
View Herrscher des Himmels (No.24) Arrangement for organ
by Fabio Rigali
Complete Score
View Aria: 'Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder' (No.31) Arrangement for organ
by Alain Brunet
Complete Score
View Chor: 'Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben' (No.36) Arrangement for organ
by William Thomas Best
Novello Complete Score
View Aria: 'Flößt, mein Heiland, flößt dein Namen' (No.39) Arrangement for organ
by Pierre Gouin
Montréal: Les Éditions Outremontaises 2017 Complete Score
View Chorale: 'Jesus richte mein Beginnen' (No.42) Arrangement for trumpet and organ
by Michel Rondeau
Complete Score and Trumpet Part
Engraving files (Finale & XML)
View Coro: 'Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen' (No.43) Arrangement for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos
by Russ Bartoli
Complete Score and Parts
View Chorus: 'Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben' (No.54) Arrangement for 5 trumpets and 3 trombones
by Stefan Adams
Complete Score and Parts (Trumpets in B)
Complete Score and Parts (Trumpets in C)
View Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (No.64) Arrangement for horn, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones and tuba
by Stefan Adams
Complete Score and Parts (Trumpets in B)
Complete Score and Parts (Trumpets in C)
View Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (No.64) Arrangement for trumpet and organ
by Jonas Vincent Spanier
Complete Score
Trumpet (D)
View Chorale: 'Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen' (No.64) Arrangement for organ
by Jørgen Ellegård Frederiksen
Complete Score

Recordings/Performances

DetailsTypeSectionPerformersArranged forFiles (click to listen)
View Fritz Lehmann, performer
Helmut Krebs, performer
Gunthild Weber, performer
Sieglinde Wagner, alto
Heinz Rehfuss, performer
Günther Arndt, performer
I. Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
II. Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend
III. Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen
IV. Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben
V. Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen
VI. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
View Chorale: Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein (No.9) Cantores Carmeli Linz, performer
Michael Stenov, organ
For Mixed Chorus, Trumpets, Timpani, Strings and Organ (Stenov) Complete Performance
View Aria: 'Bereite dich, Zion' (No.4) Héctor Valls, piano For Voice and Piano Piano accompaniment
View MIDI Selections 36. Fallt mit Loben, fallt mit Danken
42. Jesus richte mein Beginnen
43. Ehre sei dir Gott gesungen
54. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
64. Nun seid Ihr wohl gerochen
View Synthesized Selections For 2 Horns, 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones and Tuba (Rondeau) Nos.17, 23 - Synthesized Performance
View MIDI Aria: 'Bereite dich, Zion' (No.4) Peter Bækgaard, performer For Organ (Bækgaard) Synthesized Performance
View MIDI Sinfonia (No.10) For 8 Recorders (Tennent) Synthesized Performance
View Synthesized Sinfonia (No.10) For 4 Recorders (Olschewski) Synthesized Performance
View Synthesized Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her (No.17) For 4 Recorders (Mondrup) Synthesized Performance
View Synthesized Chorale: 'Jesus richte mein Beginnen' (No.42) For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau) Synthesized Performance
View MIDI Chorus: 'Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben' (No.54) For 5 Trumpets and 3 Trombones (Adams) Synthesized Performance
View MIDI Ich steh' an deiner Krippen hier (No.59) Synthesized Performance
View MIDI Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen (No.64) For Horn, 4 Trumpets, 2 Trombones and Tuba (Adams) Synthesized Performance


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