Bach: Christmas Oratorio – Festive Moments

Jauchzet, frohlocket: rejoice, exult! The drum roll and shimmering trumpet fanfares which herald the beginning of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio are the cue for many lovers of classical music to enter into the Christmas spirit. Bach’s great oratorio comprises six self-contained cantatas for the holiday period. With its narrative sections taken from the gospels of St Luke and St Matthew, its reflective chorales, rousing choruses and poignant arias the Christmas Oratorio is for many people the epitome of Baroque festive music and an important and cherished part of the Christmas tradition.