Bach, J S: Chorale Prelude BWV601 'Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottessohn'

Like only few other collections this is one of the standard works of organ literature. Originally envisioned by Bach - according to the autograph title and the concept of the volume - as a much more comprehensive compendium of chorale arrangements with obbligato pedal for "beginning organists", it is now an indispensable - albeit much less extensive than planned - foundation of organ chorale composition. Moreover, it is a kind of thesaurus of Bach´s musical language, especially since Albert Schweitzer saw it as a dictionary of the same.

Just as much a part of Christmas as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is a reworking of a collection of his secular festive cantatas to form a single larger work. It was first heard in Leipzig on Christmas Day 1734, and performed in six sections between Christmas Day and Epiphany 1735. Bach wrote similar oratorios for Easter and Ascension, and all re-use existing cantatas. For the oratorio versions however, it wasn’t just a case of cobbling the works together. Bach wrote much new music, especially the choruses, but the core of the work is taken from cantatas nos 213, 214 and 215.

Chorale preludes would have been a feature of any church service in Leipzig over the Christmas period, acting as interludes between the movements of the cantatas and oratorios. A selection of works for organ related to Christmas is included on the 10th CD of this Festive Bach box.

Recent recordings.

For lovers of Barock music - Bach in festive mood is particularly uplifting!

Played on Silbermann organs.