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{{Short description|1734 oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach}}
{{italic title}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| title         = ''Christmas Oratorio''
| composer      = {{nowrap|[[Johann Sebastian Bach|J. S. Bach]]}}
| type          = Cycle of six [[Christmas cantata]]s
| image         = BWV 248 Autograph.jpg
| alt           = First page of the manuscript of Bach's score
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption       = First page of the manuscript of the [[Full score|score]]
| catalogue     = [[BWV]] 248
| related       = earlier secular cantatas
| performed     = {{Start date|1734|12|25|df=y}} to {{nowrap|6 January 1735}}, [[Leipzig]]
| movements     = 64 in six parts
| text          = {{ubl| Biblical text from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew
| Lutheran hymns
| Poetry attributed to [[Picander]] }}
| vocal         = [[SATB|{{abbr|SATB|soprano, alto, tenor and bass}}]] choir and soloists
| instrumental  = {{hlist | 3 trumpets | 2 horns | timpani | 2 traversos | 2 oboes | 2 oboes d'amore | 2 violins | viola | cello | violone | continuo }}
}}
The '''''Christmas Oratorio''''' (German: ''Weihnachtsoratorium''), '''{{nowrap|BWV 248}}''', is an [[oratorio]] by [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] intended for performance in church during the [[Twelve Days of Christmas|Christmas season]]. It is in six parts, each part a [[Bach cantata|cantata]] intended for performance in a church service on a feast day of the Christmas period. It was written for the Christmas season of [[1734 in music|1734]] and incorporates music from earlier compositions, including three secular [[cantata]]s written during 1733 and 1734 and a largely lost church cantata, [[BWV&nbsp;248a]]. The date is confirmed in Bach's autograph manuscript. The next complete public performance was not until 17 December 1857 by the [[Sing-Akademie zu Berlin]] under [[Eduard Grell]].{{sfn|Rathey|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=X3XADAAAQBAJ&pg=PT456 456]}} The ''Christmas Oratorio'' is a particularly sophisticated example of [[parody music]].{{sfn|Rathey2016b|pp=vii, viii, ''passim''}} The author of the text is unknown, although a likely collaborator was Christian Friedrich Henrici ([[Picander]]).

The work belongs to a group of three oratorios written in 1734 and 1735 for major feasts, the other two works being the ''[[Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11|Ascension Oratorio]]'' (BWV 11) and the ''[[Easter Oratorio]]'' (BWV 249). All three of these oratorios to some degree parody earlier compositions.{{sfn|Rathey2016b|pp=vii, viii, ''passim''}} The ''Christmas Oratorio'' is by far the longest and most complex work of the three.{{sfn|Rathey|2016b|p=143}}

The first part (for Christmas Day) describes the [[birth of Jesus]]; the second (for 26 December) the [[annunciation to the shepherds]]; the third (for 27 December) the [[Adoration of the Shepherds#Biblical narrative|adoration of the shepherds]]; the fourth (for New Year's Day) the [[Feast of the Circumcision of Christ|circumcision and naming of Jesus]]; the fifth (for the first Sunday after New Year) the journey of the [[Magi]]; and the sixth (for [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]) the adoration of the Magi.

The running time for the entire oratorio is around three hours. In concert performance, it is often presented split into two parts.

==History==
[[File:BWV 248 Libretto.JPG|thumb|First two pages of the libretto of Bach's ''Christmas Oratorio'', as printed in 1734.<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Source [https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalSource_source_00025367?lang=en D-LEm I.&nbsp;B.&nbsp;2a]</ref>]]
[[File:Leipzig Nikolaikirche.jpg|thumb|[[St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig|St. Nicholas Church]]]]
[[File:Leipzig - Thomaskirche.jpg|thumb|[[St. Thomas Church, Leipzig|St. Thomas Church]]]]
{{see also|Church cantata (Bach)#Christmas}}
In the [[Liturgical calendar (Lutheran)#In Germany|liturgical calendar of the German reformation era]] in Saxony, the [[Christmastide|Christmas season]] started on 25 December (Christmas Day) and ended on 6&nbsp;January ([[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]). It was preceded by [[Advent]], and followed by the period of the Sundays after Epiphany. It included at least three feast days that called for festive music during religious services: apart from Christmas ([[Nativity of Christ]]) and Epiphany ([[Visit of the Magi]]) the period also included New Year's Day (1&nbsp;January), in [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]]'s time still often referred to as the [[Feast of the Circumcision of Christ]]. Also 26 and 27 December (second and third day of Christmas) were commonly considered feast days, with festive music in church. If a Sunday fell between 27 December and 1&nbsp;January, also on this [[First Sunday of Christmas|first Sunday after Christmas]] a church service with music was held, and similar for a Sunday between 1 and 6&nbsp;January (second Sunday after Christmas, or: first Sunday after New Year).

===1714–1729===
Before Bach composed his ''Christmas Oratorio'' for the 1734–35 Christmas season in [[Leipzig]], he had already composed [[Christmas cantata]]s and other church music for all seven occasions of the Christmas season:
* Before his Leipzig period he composed, as part of [[Weimar cantata (Bach)#Weimar cycle|his Weimar cantata cycle]]:
** Christmas, {{nowrap|25 December 1714}}: [[Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63|''Christen, ätzet diesen Tag'', BWV&nbsp;63]].<ref name=BDW79>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0079}}</ref>
** First Sunday after Christmas, {{nowrap|30 December 1714}}: [[Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152|''Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn'', BWV&nbsp;152]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0186}}</ref>
* For the 1723–24 Christmas season, during his first year as musical director of Leipzig's principal churches:
** Christmas Day: repeat performance of BWV&nbsp;63,<ref name=BDW79 /> which thus became part of [[Bach's first cantata cycle|his first cantata cycle]], and, as part of the [[Bach's church music in Latin|Latin Church music he composed]] for Leipzig, his [[Magnificat, BWV&nbsp;243a]] (version with Christmas interpolations) and [[BWV 238|Sanctus in D&nbsp;major, BWV&nbsp;238]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Works {{BDW|0303}} and {{BDW|0297}}</ref>
** Second Day of Christmas: [[Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40|''Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes'', BWV&nbsp;40]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0055}}</ref>
** Third Day of Christmas: [[Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64|''Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget'', BWV&nbsp;64]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0080}}</ref>
** New Year's Day: [[Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190|''Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied'', BWV&nbsp;190]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0230}}</ref>
** Second Sunday after Christmas ({{nowrap|2 January}}): [[Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind, BWV 153|''Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind'', BWV&nbsp;153]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0187}}</ref>
** Epiphany: [[Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65|''Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen'', BWV&nbsp;65]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0081}}</ref>
* For the 1724–25 Christmas season, as part of his [[chorale cantata cycle]] (except for the Latin [[Sanctus]]):
** Christmas Day: [[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91|''Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ'', BWV&nbsp;91 (early version)]],<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0116}}</ref> and [[Sanctus for six vocal parts, BWV&nbsp;232/III (early version)]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11391}}</ref>
** Second Day of Christmas: [[Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121|''Christum wir sollen loben schon'', BWV&nbsp;121]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0148}}</ref>
** Third Day of Christmas: [[Ich freue mich in dir, BWV 133|''Ich freue mich in dir'', BWV&nbsp;133]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0163}}</ref>
** First Sunday after Christmas (31 December): [[Das neugeborne Kindelein, BWV 122|''Das neugeborne Kindelein'', BWV&nbsp;122]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0149}}</ref>
** New Year's Day: [[Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41|''Jesu, nun sei gepreiset'', BWV&nbsp;41]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0056}}</ref>
** Epiphany: [[Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123|''Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen'', BWV&nbsp;123]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0150}}</ref>
* Cantatas of [[Bach's third cantata cycle]], for the Christmas seasons of 1725–26 and 1726–27:
** Christmas Day (1725): [[Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110|''Unser Mund sei voll Lachens'', BWV&nbsp;110]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0135}}</ref>
** Second Day of Christmas (1725): [[Selig ist der Mann, BWV 57|''Selig ist der Mann'', BWV&nbsp;57]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0072}}</ref>
** Third Day of Christmas (1725): [[Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt, BWV 151|''Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt'', BWV&nbsp;151]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0185}}</ref>
** First Sunday after Christmas (30 December 1725): [[Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende, BWV 28|''Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende'', BWV&nbsp;28]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0035}}</ref>
** New Year's Day (1726): [[Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16|''Herr Gott, dich loben wir'', BWV&nbsp;16]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0018}}</ref>
** Second Sunday after Christmas ({{nowrap|5 January 1727}}): [[Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 58|''Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid'', BWV&nbsp;58 (early version)]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0074}}</ref>

Four of these third cycle cantatas for the Christmas season, BWV&nbsp;110, 57, 151 and 16, were on a text from [[Georg Christian Lehms]]'s ''Gottgefälliges Kirchen-Opffer'' cantata libretto cycle, which had been published in 1711.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=m9JuwslMcq4C&pg=PA36 pp. 36–43]}}<ref name="Lehms1711">Georg Christian Lehms. ''Gottgefälliges Kirchen-Opffer in einem gantzen Jahr-Gange Andächtiger Betrachtungen/ über die gewöhnlichen Sonn- und Festtags-Texte GOtt zu Ehren und der Darmstättischen Schloß-Capelle zu seiner Früh- und Mittags-Erbauung''. Darmstadt: 1711.</ref> In the second half of the 1720s Bach often collaborated with [[Picander]] as a librettist for his cantatas. The ''[[Shepherd Cantata]]'', BWV 249a, first performed on 23 February 1725, one of [[List of secular cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach's secular cantatas]], is an early example of such cantata.<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0318}}</ref> Bach reused the music of this cantata in the 1725 first version of his ''[[Easter Oratorio]]''.<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0317}}</ref> [[Ihr Häuser des Himmels, ihr scheinenden Lichter, BWV 193a|''Ihr Häuser des Himmels, ihr scheinenden Lichter'', BWV 193a]], composed in 1727, is another secular cantata on a text by Picander which was, shortly after its first performance, reworked into a sacred cantata ([[Ihr Tore zu Zion, BWV 193|''Ihr Tore zu Zion'', BWV 193]]).<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Works {{BDW|0235}} and {{BDW|0234}}</ref> In [[Picander cycle of 1728–29|1728–29 Picander published a cantata libretto cycle]], leading to at least two further Christmas season cantatas by Bach:
* Christmas Day 1728, or possibly 1729: [[Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe, BWV 197a|''Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe'', BWV&nbsp;197a]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0245}}</ref>
* New Year's Day 1729: [[Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm, BWV 171|''Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm'', BWV&nbsp;171]], with music in part adapted from the secular cantata, likewise on a text by Picander, [[Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, BWV 205|''Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft'', BWV 205]].<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Works {{BDW|0206}} and {{BDW|0255}}</ref>

A [[Christmas oratorio]] presented as a cycle of six cantatas, to be performed on several days during the Christmas period, was not uncommon in Bach's day: [[Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel]], whose church music was not unknown to Bach and Leipzig churchgoers,{{sfn|Glöckner|2009}} had composed such Christmas oratorios in 1719 and 1728.<ref name="Scheitler2005">{{in lang|de}} Irmgard Scheitler. [https://books.google.com/books?id=NxxgXwt8UE4C ''Deutschsprachige Oratorienlibretti: von den Anfängen bis 1730''.] Schöningh, 2005. {{ISBN|3-506-72955-1}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NxxgXwt8UE4C&pg=PA338 pp.&nbsp;338–345]</ref><ref name="Courts2011p204">[[Samantha Owens]], Barbara M. Reul, Janice B. Stockigt [https://books.google.com/books?id=NeTwCgAAQBAJ ''Music at German Courts, 1715–1760: Changing Artistic Priorities''.] Boydell & Brewer, 2011 (reprint 2015). {{ISBN|978-1-78327-058-3}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NeTwCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA204 p. 204]</ref><ref name="CO1728">[http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/mielorth/stoelzel/werk/oratorium.htm Texte zu einem ''Weihnachts-Oratorium'' 1728] – {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917083447/http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/mielorth/stoelzel/werk/oratorium.htm |date=17 September 2016 |title=Texte zu einem ''Weihnachts-Oratorium'' 1728 }} at {{URL|www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/mielorth/stoelzel}}</ref>

===1730s===
{{see also|Late church cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach#Christmas to Epiphany}}

====Models from earlier compositions====
In the early 1730s, Bach composed a number of secular cantatas, including:
* [[So kämpfet nur, ihr muntern Töne, BWV&nbsp;1160|''So kämpfet nur, ihr muntern Töne'', BWV&nbsp;1160]], on a libretto by Picander, first performed on {{nowrap|25 August 1731}} (music lost, apart from later versions of the opening chorus).<ref name=BD1318>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|1318}}</ref>
* [[Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen, BWV 213|''Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen'', BWV&nbsp;213]] (''Hercules at the Crossroads''), on a libretto by Picander, performed on {{nowrap|5 September 1733}}.<ref name=BD269>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0269}}</ref>
* [[Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten! BWV 214|''Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!'', BWV&nbsp;214]], performed on {{nowrap|8 December 1733}}.<ref name=BD270>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0270}}</ref>
* [[Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen, BWV 215|''Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen'', BWV&nbsp;215]], performed on {{nowrap|5 October 1734}}.<ref name=BD271>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0271}}</ref>

Movements from the BWV&nbsp;213, 214 and 215 cantatas form the basis of several movements of the ''Christmas Oratorio''.<ref name=BD269 /><ref name=BD270 /><ref name=BD271 /> In addition to these sources, the sixth cantata is based on a largely lost church cantata, [[BWV&nbsp;248a]], of which at least the opening chorus is based on the lost secular cantata [[BWV&nbsp;1160]].<ref name=BD1318 /><ref name=BD315>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BDW|0315}}</ref> The trio aria in Part&nbsp;V "Ach, wenn wird die Zeit erscheinen?" is believed to be from a similarly lost source, and the chorus from the same section "Wo ist der neugeborne König" is from the 1731 [[St Mark Passion, BWV 247|''St Mark Passion'', BWV 247]].<ref name="Breig">[[Werner Breig]], sleeve notes to [[John Eliot Gardiner]]'s recording of the ''Christmas Oratorio'' ([[Deutsche Grammophon]] Archiv, 4232322, 1987)</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Cantata movements reused in ''Christmas Oratorio''{{sfn|Hofmann|2005}}{{sfn|Wessel|2015|p=47}}
|-
! scope="col" | Cantata
! scope="col" | Movement
! scope="col" | Type
! scope="col" | BWV 248
! scope="col" | Movement
|-
| data-sort-value="BWV 213/01" | BWV 213/1
| Lasst uns sorgen, lasst uns wachen
| Chorus (SATB)
| 36 (IV/1)
| Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben
|-
| data-sort-value="BWV 213/03" | BWV 213/3
| Schlafe, mein Liebster, und pflege der Ruh
| Aria (s→a)
| 19 (II/10)
| Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh
|-
| data-sort-value="BWV 213/05" | BWV 213/5
| Treues Echo dieser Orten
| Aria (a→s)
| 39 (IV/4)
| Flößt, mein Heiland, flößt dein Namen
|-
| data-sort-value="BWV 213/07" | BWV 213/7
| Auf meinen Flügeln sollst du schweben
| Aria (t)
| 41 (IV/6)
| Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben
|-
| data-sort-value="BWV 213/09" | BWV 213/9
| Ich will dich nicht hören
| Aria (a)
| {{0}}4 (I/4)
| Bereite, dich, Zion
|-
| BWV 213/11
| Ich bin deine, du bist meine
| Duet (at→sb)
| 29 (III/6)
| Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen
|-
| BWV 214/1
| Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten
| Chorus (SATB)
| {{0}}1 (I/1)
| Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
|-
| BWV 214/5
| Fromme Musen! meine Glieder
| Aria (a→t)
| 15 (II/6)
| Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet
|-
| BWV 214/7
| Kron und Preis gekrönter Damen
| Aria (b)
| {{0}}8 (I/8)
| Großer Herr, o starker König
|-
| BWV 214/9
| Blühet, ihr Linden in Sachsen, wie Zedern
| Chorus (SATB)
| 24 (III/1&13)
| Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen
|-
| BWV 215/7
| Durch die von Eifer entflammten Waffen
| Aria (s→b)
| 47 (V/5)
| Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen
|-
| BWV 247/43
| Pfui dich, wie fein zerbrichst du den Tempel
| Chorus (SATB)
| 45 (V/3)
| Wo ist der neugeborne König der Juden
|-
| BWV 248a/1
| —
| Chorus (SATB)
| 54 (VI/1)
| Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
|-
| BWV 248a/2
| —
| Recitative (→s)
| 56 (VI/3)
| Du Falscher, suche nur den Herrn zu fällen
|-
| BWV 248a/3
| —
| Aria (→s)
| 57 (VI/4)
| Nur ein Wink von seinen Händen
|-
| BWV 248a/4
| —
| Recitative (→t)
| 61 (VI/8)
| So geht! Genug, mein Schatz geht nicht von hier
|-
| BWV 248a/5
| —
| Aria (→t)
| 62 (VI/9)
| Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken
|-
| BWV 248a/6
| —
| Recitative (→satb)
| 63 (VI/10)
| Was will der Höllen Schrecken nun
|-
| BWV 248a/7
| —
| Chorus (SATB)
| 64 (VI/11)
| Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen
|-
| data-sort-value="BWV deest" | ?
| —
| Trio (→sat)
| 51 (V/9)
| Ach! wann wird die Zeit erscheinen?
|}

====Chorales====
{{see also|List of chorale harmonisations by Johann Sebastian Bach#BWV 248}}
Like for most of his German-language church music, Bach used [[Lutheran hymn]]s, and their [[Lutheran chorale]] tunes, in his ''Christmas Oratorio''.<ref>[http://www.bach-chorales.com/BachChoraleTable.htm Sortable Index of the Chorales by J.S. Bach] at {{URL|www.bach-chorales.com}}</ref><ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11270}}</ref>{{sfn|Terry|1915}} The first chorale tune appears in the 5th movement of Part&nbsp;I: it is the tune known as [[Herzlich tut mich verlangen]], that is, the same hymn tune which Bach used in his ''[[St Matthew Passion]]'' for setting several stanzas of [[Paul Gerhardt]]'s "O&nbsp;Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" ("[[O&nbsp;Sacred Head, Now Wounded]]"). The same melody reappears in the last movement of the oratorio (No.&nbsp;64, closing chorale of Part&nbsp;VI). In the oratorio there is, however, no association with the pain and suffering evoked in the Passion.{{sfn|Dürr|Jones|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=m9JuwslMcq4C&pg=PA105 105]}}

[[Martin Luther]]'s 1539 "[[Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her]]" melody appears in three chorales: twice on a text by Paul Gerhardt in Part&nbsp;II of the oratorio, and the first time, in the closing chorale of Part&nbsp;I, with the 13th stanza of Luther's hymn as text. A well-known English version of that stanza is "Oh, my dear heart, young Jesus sweet", the first stanza of "[[Balulalow]]", as, for instance, sung in 2009 by English musician [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]:<ref>[[Robert Chambers (publisher born 1802)|Robert Chambers]]. [https://archive.org/stream/popularrhymesofs00chamrich#page/12/mode/2up ''Popular rhymes of Scotland'', pp.&nbsp;12–13] (1870)</ref><ref>[[Sting (musician)|Sting]] (2009). ''[[If on a Winter's Night...]]'', track&nbsp;11.</ref>
{{Verse translation
| lang = de|lang2=en|italicsoff=yes
|Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein,
Mach dir ein rein sanft Bettelein,
Zu ruhn in meines Herzens Schrein,
Dass ich nimmer vergesse dein!
|Oh, my deir hert, young Jesus sweit,
Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee in my hert,
And never mair from thee depart.| attr1 = [https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00011385?XSL.Style=detail&lang=en lyrics of ''Christmas Oratorio'', Part&nbsp;I]| attr2 = [https://archive.org/stream/popularrhymesofs00chamrich#page/13/mode/2up ''Popular rhymes of Scotland'', p.&nbsp;13]
}}
The ''Christmas Oratorio'' is exceptional in that it contains a few hymn settings, or versions of hymn tunes, for which there is no known earlier source than Bach's composition:{{sfn|Zahn IV|p=[https://archive.org/details/1508286757bsb11304502/page/n83 78]}}{{sfn|Zahn VI|p=[https://archive.org/details/1508288358bsb11304504/page/n575 566–567]}}
* The chorale melody used in No.&nbsp;33 of the oratorio appears to be based on [[Georg Ebeling]]'s 1666 "[[Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen]]" hymn tune.<ref>[http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_33.htm BWV 248(3).33(10)] at {{URL|www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref> The [[Zahn number]] of Ebeling's original is [[Zahn 6456a|6456a]].{{sfn|Zahn IV|p=[https://archive.org/details/1508286757bsb11304502/page/n80 75]}} Bach's ''Christmas Oratorio'' version of the tune is [[Zahn&nbsp;6462]], first printed in 1769 as No.&nbsp;143 in the second volume of [[Bach's four-part chorales published by Birnstiel]].<ref name="BDW11264">[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11264}}</ref>{{sfn|Zahn IV|p=[https://archive.org/details/1508286757bsb11304502/page/n83 78]}}
* No.&nbsp;38 and 40 set the first stanza of [[Johann Rist]]'s "[[Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben]]" hymn text: the setting is Bach's – it is not based on any known pre-existing hymn tune.{{sfn|Rathey|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Qp-kDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA127 127]}}
* The tune used for Johann Rist's "[[Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen]]" hymn text in No.&nbsp;42 of the oratorio appears to be an original composition by Bach.<ref name="BDW11266">[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11266}}</ref> It is mentioned as such in the last volume of [[Johannes Zahn]]'s {{ill|Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder|scores|Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (Zahn, Johannes)|lt=''Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder''}}, as first of four late additions to his catalogue of German [[Evangelical]] hymn tunes.{{sfn|Zahn VI|p=[https://archive.org/details/1508288358bsb11304504/page/n575 566–567]}}
There are very few known hymn tunes by Bach (he used Lutheran hymn tunes in the large majority of his sacred compositions, but rarely one of his own invention): apart from what can be found in the ''Christmas Oratorio'', there appears to be one, partly inspired by a pre-existing melody, in the motet [[Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229|''Komm, Jesu, komm'', BWV&nbsp;229]] (composed before 1731–32),{{sfn|Melamed|1995|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?hl=nl&id=JDlBMqI628UC&pg=PA38 38]–[https://books.google.com/books?hl=nl&id=JDlBMqI628UC&pg=PA39 39] and [https://books.google.com/books?hl=nl&id=JDlBMqI628UC&pg=PA102 102]}} and at least one entirely by Bach, [[BWV 505|"Vergiss mein nicht, vergiss mein nicht", BWV&nbsp;505]], in {{lang|de|[[Schemellis Gesangbuch]]}} (published in 1736).{{sfn|Dürr|Kobayashi|1998|p=304}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chorales in ''Christmas Oratorio''{{sfn|Rathey|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Qp-kDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA127 127]}}
|-
! scope="col" | Author
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Hymn; Stanza
! scope="col" | Stanza incipit
! scope="col" | Melody
! scope="col" | Composer
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Zahn
! scope="col" | BWV 248
|-
| [[Paul Gerhardt|Gerhardt]]
| 1653
| [[Wie soll ich dich empfangen]]
| {{0}}1
| Wie soll ich dich empfangen
| [[Herzlich tut mich verlangen]]
| [[Hans Leo Hassler|Hassler]]
| 1601
| [[Zahn 5385a|5385a]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11279}}</ref>
| {{0}}5 (I/5)
|-
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1524
| [[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ]]
| {{0}}6
| Er ist auf Erden kommen arm
| [[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ]]
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1524
| [[Zahn 1947|1947]]
| {{0}}7 (I/7)
|-
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1535
| [[Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her]]
| 13
| Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein
| [[Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her]]
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1539
| [[Zahn 346|{{0}}346]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11280}}</ref>
| {{0}}9 (I/9)
|-
| [[Johann Rist|Rist]]
| 1641
| [[Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist]]
| {{0}}9
| Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht
| [[Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist]]
| [[Johann Schop|Schop]]/[[Johann Crüger|Crüger]]
| 1648
| [[Zahn 5741b|5741b]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11260}}</ref>
| 12 (II/3)
|-
| [[Paul Gerhardt|Gerhardt]]
| 1667
| [[Schaut, schaut, was ist für Wunder dar]]
| {{0}}8
| Schaut hin! dort liegt im finstern Stall
| [[Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her]]
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1539
| [[Zahn 346|{{0}}346]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11261}}</ref>
| 17 (II/8)
|-
| [[Paul Gerhardt|Gerhardt]]
| 1656
| [[Wir singen dir, Immanuel]]
| {{0}}2
| Wir singen dir in deinem Heer
| [[Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her]]
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1539
| [[Zahn 346|{{0}}346]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11281}}</ref>
| 23 (II/14)
|-
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1524
| [[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ]]
| {{0}}7
| Dies hat er alles uns getan
| [[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ]]
| [[Martin Luther|Luther]]
| 1524
| [[Zahn 1947|1947]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11262}}</ref>
| 28 (III/5)
|-
| [[Paul Gerhardt|Gerhardt]]
| 1653
| [[Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen]]
| 15
| Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren
| [[Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen]]
| [[Georg Ebeling|Ebeling]]/[[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]]
| 1734
| [[Zahn 6462|6462]]<ref name="BDW11264"/>
| 33 (III/10)
|-
| {{ill|Christoph Runge|s:de|ADB:Runge, Christoph (1619 bis 1681)|lt=Runge}}
| 1653
| [[Laßt Furcht und Pein]]
| {{0}}4
| Seid froh, dieweil
| [[Wir Christenleut|Wir Christenleut habn jetzund Freud]]
| [[Kaspar Füger|Füger]]
| 1593
| [[Zahn 2072|2072]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11263}}</ref>
| 35 (III/12)
|-
| [[Johann Rist|Rist]]
| 1642
| [[Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben]]
| {{0}}1a
| Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben
| —
| [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]]
| 1734
| —
| 38 (IV/3)
|-
| [[Johann Rist|Rist]]
| 1642
| [[Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben]]
| {{0}}1b
| Jesu, meine Freud und Wonne
| —
| [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]]
| 1734
| —
| 40 (IV/5)
|-
| [[Johann Rist|Rist]]
| 1642
| [[Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen]]
| 15
| Jesus richte mein Beginnen
| [[Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen]]
| [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]]
| 1734
| Vol.&nbsp;VI p.&nbsp;566<ref name="BDW11266"/>
| 42 (IV/7)
|-
| [[Georg Weissel|Weissel]]
| 1642
| [[Nun, liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit]]
| {{0}}5
| Dein Glanz all' Finsternis verzehrt
| [[In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr]]
| ([[Nürnberg]])
| 1581
| [[Zahn 2461c|2461c]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11265}}</ref>
| 46 (V/4)
|-
| [[Johann Franck|Franck]]
| 1655
| [[Ihr Gestirn, ihr hohlen Lüfte]]
| {{0}}9
| Zwar ist solche Herzensstube
| [[Gott des Himmels und der Erden]]
| [[Heinrich Albert (composer)|Albert]]/([[Darmstadt]])
| 1687
| [[Zahn 3614b|3614b]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11267}}</ref>
| 53 (V/11)
|-
| [[Paul Gerhardt|Gerhardt]]
| 1656
| [[Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier]]
| {{0}}1
| Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier
| [[Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein]]
| ([[Wittenberg]])
| 1529
| [[Zahn 4429a|4429a]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11268}}</ref>
| 59 (VI/6)
|-
| [[Georg Werner (hymnologist)|Werner]]
| 1648
| [[Ihr Christen auserkoren]]
| {{0}}4
| Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen
| [[Herzlich tut mich verlangen]]
| [[Hans Leo Hassler|Hassler]]
| 1601
| [[Zahn 5385a|5385a]]<ref>[[Bach Digital]] Work {{BD0|11269}}</ref>
| 64 (VI/11)
|}

====Gospel narrative====
Like for [[List of oratorios by Johann Sebastian Bach|his other oratorios]], and [[Passions (Bach)|his Passion settings]], Bach employed a narrative based on the [[New Testament|Gospel]] in his ''Christmas Oratorio''. The Gospel narrative of this oratorio followed, to a certain extent, the respective Gospel readings of the church services where the six cantatas of the ''Christmas Oratorio'' were to be performed for the first time. The six services of the Christmas season 1734–35 where the oratorio's cantatas were to be performed had these Gospel readings:
# Christmas Day: {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=1|range=–14}} (theme: [[Nativity of Jesus|Nativity]], [[Annunciation to the shepherds]] and the angels' song).
# Second Day of Christmas: {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=15|range=–20}} (theme: [[Adoration of the Shepherds]]).
# Third Day of Christmas: {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=John|chapter=1|verse=1|range=–14}} – prologue of the [[Gospel of John]], also known as [[Hymn to the Word]].
# New Year's Day: {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=21}} (theme: [[Circumcision of Jesus]])
# Sunday after New Year: {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=13|range=–23}} (theme: the [[Flight into Egypt]])
# Epiphany: {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=1|range=–12}} (theme: [[Wise Men From the East]])

As usual in most of his oratorios, and all of his Passions, the [[Evangelist (Bach)|Evangelist character]] enunciated the Gospel text in sung [[recitative]]s, except the passages in direct speech, which were sung by soloists or choral groups representing the characters who spoke these texts according to the Gospel narrative. The Gospel text included by Bach in his six ''Christmas Oratorio'' cantatas consists of:
# {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=1|range=, 3–7}}, i.e. part of the Christmas Day reading.
# {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=8|range=–14}}, i.e. second half of the Christmas Day reading.
# {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=15|range=–20}}, i.e. text of the Second Day of Christmas Gospel reading.
# {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=21}}, i.e. the New Year's Day Gospel reading
# {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=1|range=–6}}, i.e. part of the Gospel reading for the Epiphany feast
# {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=7|range=–12}}, i.e. second half of the Gospel reading for Epiphany
The Gospel readings for the Third Day of Christmas (Prologue of the Gospel of John), and for the Sunday after New Year (the Flight to Egypt) are not directly used in the ''Christmas Oratorio''. In detail:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Gospel readings in ''Christmas Oratorio''
|-
! scope="col" | Day
! scope="col" | Reading
! scope="col" | BWV 248
! scope="col" | Occasion
! scope="col" | Movement
|-
| rowspan="9" | Christmas 1
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=1}}
| {{0}}2 (I/2a)
| Christmas 1
| Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=2}}
| colspan="3" | —
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=3|range=–6}}
| {{0}}2 (I/2b)
| rowspan="2" | Christmas 1
| Und jedermann ging
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=7}}
| {{0}}6 (I/6)
| Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=8|range=–9}}
| 11 (II/2)
| rowspan="5" | Christmas 2
| Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=10|range=–11}}
| 13 (II/4)
| Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=12}}
| 16 (II/7)
| Und das habt zum Zeichen
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=13}}
| 20 (II/11)
| Und alsobald war da bei dem Engel
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=14}}
| 21 (II/12)
| Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe
|-
| rowspan="4" | Christmas 2
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=15|range=a}}
| 25 (III/2)
| rowspan="4" | Christmas 3
| Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=15|range=b}}
| 26 (III/3)
| Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=16|range=–19}}
| 30 (III/7)
| Und sie kamen eilend
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=20}}
| 34 (III/11)
| Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um
|-
| Christmas 3
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=John|chapter=1|verse=1|range=–14}}
| colspan="3" | —
|-
| New Year
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=21}}
| 37 (IV/2)
| New Year
| Und da acht Tage um waren
|-
| New Year I
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=13|range=–23}}
| colspan="3" | —
|-
| rowspan="7" | Epiphany
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=1}}
| 44 (V/2)
| rowspan="4" | New Year I
| Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=2}}
| 45 (V/3)
| Wo ist der neugeborne König der Juden
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=3}}
| 48 (V/6)
| Da das der König Herodes hörte
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=4|range=–6}}
| 50 (V/8)
| Und ließ versammeln alle Hohenpriester
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=7|range=–8}}
| 55 (VI/2)
| rowspan="3" | Epiphany
| Da berief Herodes die Weisen heimlich
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=9|range=–11}}
| 58 (VI/5)
| Als sie nun den König gehöret hatten
|-
| {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=12}}
| 60 (VI/7)
| Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum
|}

====First performance====
The oratorio was written for performance on six feast days of Christmas during the winter of 1734 and 1735. The original score also contains details of when each part was performed. It was incorporated within services of the two most important churches in [[Leipzig]], [[St. Thomas Church, Leipzig|St. Thomas]] and [[St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig|St. Nicholas]]. As can be seen below, the work was only performed in its entirety at the St. Nicholas Church.

First performances:
* 25 December 1734: [[Jauchzet, frohlocket! BWV 248 I|Part I]] – 'early in the morning' at St. Nicholas; 'in the afternoon' at St. Thomas
* 26 December 1734: [[Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248 II|Part II]] – morning at St. Thomas; afternoon at St. Nicholas
* 27 December 1734: [[Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen, BWV 248 III|Part III]] – morning at St. Nicholas
* 1 January 1735: [[Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben, BWV 248 IV|Part IV]] – morning at St. Thomas; afternoon at St. Nicholas
* 2 January 1735: [[Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen, BWV 248 V|Part V]] – morning at St Nicholas
* 6 January 1735: [[Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, BWV 248 VI|Part VI]] – morning at St. Thomas; afternoon at St. Nicholas

==Text==
[[File:Soest-Geburt-Christi.jpg|thumb|[[Conrad von Soest]]: ''Birth of Christ'' (1404)]]
[[File:Georges de La Tour 001.jpg|thumb|[[Georges de La Tour]]: ''Adoration of the Shepherds'' (1644)]]
[[File:Giotto - Scrovegni - -17- - Nativity, Birth of Jesus.jpg|thumb|[[Giotto]]: ''Angels at the Nativity'' (c. 1300)]]
[[File:Rembrandt The Circumcision in the Stable.jpg|thumb|[[Rembrandt]]: ''Circumcision of Christ'' (1661)]]
[[File:Magi Herod MNMA Cl23532.jpg|thumb|[[Magi]] before [[Herod the Great|Herod]]; France, early 15th century]]
[[File:Rogier van der Weyden 009.jpg|thumb|[[Rogier van der Weyden]]: ''Adoration of the Magi'' (c. 1430–60)]]
[[File:Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 052.jpg|thumb|Rembrandt: ''[[The Flight into Egypt (Rembrandt, 1627)|Flight into Egypt]]'' (1627)]]
The ease with which the new text fits the existing music is one of the indications of how successful a parody the ''Christmas Oratorio'' is of its sources. Musicologist [[Alfred Dürr]]<ref name="Dürr">[[Alfred Dürr]], sleeve notes to [[Nikolaus Harnoncourt]]'s first recording of the ''Christmas Oratorio'' ([[Warner Music Group|Warner]] Das Alte Werk, 2564698540, 1972, p.&nbsp;10) and repeated in the notes to Harnoncourt's 2nd recording of the work ([[Sony BMG|Deutsche Harmonia Mundi]], 88697112252, 2007, p.&nbsp;22)</ref> and others, such as [[Christoph Wolff]]<ref name="Wolf">[[Christoph Wolff]], sleeve notes to [[Ton Koopman]]'s recording of the ''Christmas Oratorio'' (Warner [[Erato Records|Erato]], 0630-14635-2, 1997)</ref> have suggested that Bach's sometime collaborator Picander (the pen name of Christian Friedrich Henrici) wrote the new text, working closely with Bach to ensure a perfect fit with the re-used music. It may have even been the case that the ''Christmas Oratorio'' was already planned when Bach wrote the secular cantatas BWV 213, 214 and 215, given that the original works were written fairly close to the oratorio and the seamless way with which the new words fit the existing music.<ref name="Wolf" />

Nevertheless, on two occasions Bach abandoned the original plan and was compelled to write new music for the ''Christmas Oratorio''. The [[alto]] aria in Part III, "Schließe, mein Herze" was originally to have been set to the music for the aria "Durch die von Eifer entflammten Waffen" from BWV 215. On this occasion, however, the parody technique proved to be unsuccessful and Bach composed the aria afresh. Instead, he used the model from BWV 215 for the [[Bass (voice type)|bass]] aria "Erleucht' auch meine finstre Sinnen" in Part V. Similarly, the opening chorus to Part V, "Ehre sei dir Gott!" was almost certainly intended to be set to the music of the chorus "Lust der Völker, Lust der Deinen" from BWV 213, given the close correspondence between the texts of the two pieces. The third major new piece of writing (with the notable exception of the [[recitative]]s), the sublime pastoral Sinfonia which opens Part II, was composed from scratch for the new work.

In addition to the new compositions listed above, special mention must go to the recitatives, which knit together the oratorio into a coherent whole. In particular, Bach made particularly effective use of recitative when combining it with chorales in no. 7 of part I ("Er ist auf Erden kommen arm") and even more ingeniously in the recitatives nos. 38 and 40 which frame the "Echo Aria" ("Flößt, mein Heiland"), no. 39 in part IV.

Until 1999 the only complete English version of the Christmas Oratorio was that prepared in 1874 by [[John Troutbeck]] for the music publisher [[Novello & Co|Novello]].<ref>[http://www.neiljenkins.info/documents/christmasoratorio.pdf Background note by Neil Jenkins on his translation of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, 1999]</ref> A new edition has been worked up by Neil Jenkins.

===Narrative structure===
The structure of the story is defined to a large extent by the particular requirements of the church calendar for Christmas 1734/35. Bach abandoned his usual practice when writing church cantatas of basing the content upon the Gospel reading for that day in order to achieve a coherent narrative structure. Were he to have followed the calendar, the story would have unfolded as follows:
# Birth and Annunciation to the Shepherds
# The Adoration of the Shepherds
# Prologue to the [[Gospel of John]]
# Circumcision and Naming of Jesus
# The [[Flight into Egypt]]
# The Coming and Adoration of the Magi
This would have resulted in the Holy Family fleeing before the Magi had arrived, which was unsuitable for an oratorio evidently planned as a coherent whole. Bach removed the content for the Third Day of Christmas (27 December), John's Gospel, and split the story of the two groups of visitors—Shepherds and Magi—into two. This resulted in a more understandable exposition of the Christmas story:
# The Birth
# The Annunciation to the Shepherds
# The Adoration of the Shepherds
# The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus
# The Journey of the Magi
# The Adoration of the Magi
The Flight into Egypt takes place after the end of the sixth part.

That Bach saw the six parts as comprising a greater, unified whole is evident both from the surviving printed text and from the structure of the music itself. The edition has not only a title—''Weihnachts-Oratorium''—connecting together the six sections, but these sections are also numbered consecutively. As John Butt has mentioned,<ref name="Pickett">Sleeve notes to [[Philip Pickett]]'s recording of the ''Christmas Oratorio'' ([[Decca Records|Decca]], 458 838, 1997)</ref> this points, as in the [[Mass in B minor]], to a unity beyond the performance constraints of the church year.

==Music==
Bach expresses the unity of the whole work within the music itself, in part through his use of [[key signature]]s. Parts I and III are written in the keys of [[D major]], part II in its [[subdominant]] key [[G major]]. Parts I and III are similarly scored for exuberant trumpets, while the [[Pastoral#Pastoral music|Pastoral]] Part II (referring to the Shepherds) is, by contrast, scored for woodwind instruments and does not include an opening chorus. Part IV is written in [[F major]] (the [[relative key]] to [[D minor]]) and marks the furthest musical point away from the oratorio's opening key, scored for horns. Bach then embarks upon a journey back to the opening key, via the [[Dominant (music)|dominant]] [[A major]] of Part V to the jubilant re-assertion of D major in the final part, lending an overall arc to the piece. To reinforce this connection, between the beginning and the end of the work, Bach re-uses the [[chorale]] melody of Part I's "[[Wie soll ich dich empfangen]]" in the final chorus of Part VI, "Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen"; this choral melody is the same as of "[[O Sacred Head, Now Wounded|O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden]]", which Bach used five times in his ''[[St Matthew Passion]]''.

The music represents a particularly sophisticated expression of the parody technique, by which existing music is adapted to a new purpose. Bach took the majority of the choruses and arias from works which had been written some time earlier. Most of this music was 'secular', that is written in praise of royalty or notable local figures, outside the tradition of performance within the church.{{sfn|Rathey|2016b|pp=70 and ''passim''}}

===Instrumentation===
The scoring below<ref name="Pickett" /> refers to parts, rather than necessarily to individual players. Adherents of theories specifying small numbers of performers (even to [[OVPP|'One Voice Per Part']]) may however choose to use numbers approaching one instrument per named part.

;Part I: 3 trumpets, [[timpani]], 2 [[Western concert flute|transverse flute]]s, 2 oboes (both of which double on [[oboe d'amore]]) 2 violins, viola, [[Figured bass|continuo group]]{{efn|1=The continuo part is open to interpretation in matters of scoring. Examples: for his 1973 recording, [[Nikolaus Harnoncourt]] employed bassoon, [[Cello|violoncello]], [[violone]] (double bass) and organ;<ref name=harnoncourt248_1>Das Alte Werk (Warner), 2564698540 (1973, re-released 2008)</ref> [[Peter Schreier]] (1987) used violoncello, double bass, bassoon, organ and harpsichord;<ref name=schreier248>Decca (Philips), 4759155 (1987, re-released 2007)</ref> [[René Jacobs]] in 1997 chose violoncello, double bass, lute, bassoon, organ and harpsichord;<ref name=jacobs248>Harmonia Mundi, HMX 2901630.31 (1997, re-released 2004)</ref> and [[Jos van Veldhoven]] in 2003 opted for violoncello, double bass, bassoon, organ, harpsichord and [[theorbo]].<ref name=veldhoven248>Channel Classics Records, CCS SA 20103 (2003)</ref>}}{{efn|1=The different types of oboes referred to above are mostly called for at different points in each section. However, numbers 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19 and 21 in Part II call for 2 oboe d'amore and 2 oboe da caccia. This scoring was intended to symbolise the shepherds who are the subject of the second part. It is a reference to the pastoral music tradition of shepherds playing [[shawm]]-like instruments at Christmas. Similarly, the pastoral sinfony in Handel's ''[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]'' (1741) is known as the '[[Messiah Part I#13|Pifa]]' after the Italian [[Piffero|piffero or piffaro]], similar to the shawm and an ancestor of the oboe.}}
;Part II: 2 flutes, 2 oboes d'amore, 2 [[Oboe da caccia|oboes da caccia]], 2 violins, viola, continuo
;Part III: 3 trumpets, timpani, 2 flutes, 2 oboes (both of which double on oboe d'amore), 2 violins, viola, continuo
;Part IV: 2 [[Natural horn|horns]], 2 oboes, 2 violins, viola, continuo
;Part V: 2 oboes d'amore, 2 violins, viola, continuo
;Part VI: 3 trumpets, timpani, 2 oboes (both of which double on oboe d'amore), 2 violins, viola, continuo

;Notes
{{notelist|45em}}

==Parts and numbers==
Each section combines choruses (a [[Pastorale|pastoral]] ''Sinfonia'' opens Part II instead of a chorus), [[chorale]]s and from the soloists [[recitative]]s, [[arioso]]s and [[aria]]s.

By notational convention the [[recitative]]s are in common time.

===Part I===
{{see also|Jauchzet, frohlocket! BWV 248 I}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Part I: For the First Day of Christmas
!No.!!&nbsp;!![[Key signature|Key]]!![[Time signature|Time]]!!First line!!Scoring!!Source and Audio
|-
|1||Chorus||[[D major]]||[[Triple metre|3/8]]||{{lang|de|Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage}}||3 trumpets, timpani, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings (violin I, II, viola) and continuo (cello, violone, organ and bassoon)||BWV 214: Chorus, ''[[Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten! BWV 214|Tönet, ihr Pauken!]]''
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 01 Jauchzet, frohlokket.ogg
| title    = 01 Jauchzet, frohlocket
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|2||colspan=3|Recitative ([[Evangelist (Bach)|Evangelist]], [[tenor]])||''Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=1|range=-6}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 02 Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit.ogg
| title    = 02 Es begab sich aber
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|3||colspan=3|Recitative ([[alto]])||''Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam''||2 oboe d'amore, continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 03 Nun wird mein liebster Brautigam.ogg
| title    = 03 Nun wird mein liebster
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|4||Aria (alto)||[[A minor|A min]]||3/8||''Bereite dich, Zion, mit zärtlichen Trieben''||Oboe d'amore I, violin I, continuo||BWV 213: Aria, ''Ich will dich nicht hören''
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 04 Bereite dich, Zion.ogg
| title    = 04 Bereite dich, Zion
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|5||Chorale||E-[[Phrygian mode|Phrygian]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Dürr|first=Alfred|author-link=Alfred Dürr|title=The Cantatas of J. S. Bach|page=103|translator=[[Richard D. P. Jones]]|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-19-816707-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Rolf Wischnath|chapter=Eine Predigt über den Prediger: Zu Johann Sebastian Bachs Weihnachtsoratorium|editor1=Marco Hofheinz|editor2=Georg Plasger|editor3=Annegreth Schilling|title=Verbindlich werden: Reformierte Existenz in ökumenischer Begegnung|language=de|page=122|publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht|year=2015|isbn=978-3-7887-2909-7}}</ref>||Common||''Wie soll ich dich empfangen''||2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings and continuo||"[[Wie soll ich dich empfangen]]", v.&nbsp;1 ([[Paul Gerhardt]], 1653); [[Befiehl du deine Wege (Zahn 5385a)|Zahn&nbsp;5385a]] ([[Hans Leo Hassler]], 1601)<ref>Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_5.htm BWV&nbsp;248(1)/5] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 05 Wie soll ich dich empfangen.ogg
| title    = 05 Wie soll ich dich
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|6||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=7}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 06 Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn.ogg
| title    = 06 Und sie gebar ihren
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|7||Chorale ([[soprano]]s)
----
Recitative ([[Bass (voice type)|bass]])
|G major||3/4<br />Common||''Er ist auf Erden kommen arm''
----
''Wer will die Liebe recht erhöhn''
|2 oboe d'amore, continuo||"[[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ]]", v.&nbsp;6 ([[Martin Luther]], 1524); [[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ|Zahn&nbsp;1947]] ([[Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn|Wittenberg 1524]])<ref name="BWVp474">[[BWV2a|BWV<sup>2a</sup>]] (1998), p.&nbsp;474.</ref><ref name="Dahn0248_28">Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_28.htm BWV&nbsp;248(3)/28(5)] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 07 Er ist auf Erden kommen arm.ogg
| title    = 07 Er ist auf Erden
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|8||Aria (bass)||D major||2/4||''Großer Herr, o starker König''||Trumpet I, flute I, strings, continuo||BWV 214: Aria, ''Kron und Preis gekrönter Damen''
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 08 Grosser Herr.ogg
| title    = 08 Großer Herr
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|9||Chorale||D major||Common||''Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein!''||3 trumpets, timpani, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings and continuo (cello, violone, organ and bassoon)||"[[Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her]]", v.&nbsp;13 (Martin Luther, 1535); [[Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her|Zahn&nbsp;346]] (Martin Luther, 1539)<ref>Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_9.htm BWV&nbsp;248(1)/9] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 09 Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein.ogg
| title    = 09 Ach mein herzliebes
| plain    = yes
}}
|}

===Part II===
{{see also|Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248 II}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Part II: For the Second Day of Christmas
!No.!!&nbsp;!!Key!!Time!!First line!!Scoring!!Source and Audio
|-
|10||Sinfonia||[[G major]]||[[Compound meter (music)|12/8]]||—||2 flutes, 2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, strings, continuo ||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 10 Sinfonia.ogg
| title    = 10 Sinfonia
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|11||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=8|range=-9}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 11 Und es waren Hirten.ogg
| title    = 11 Und es waren Hirten
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|12||Chorale||G major||Common||''Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht''||2 flutes, 2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, strings, continuo||"[[Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist]]", v.&nbsp;9 ([[Johann Rist]], 1641); [[Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist|Zahn&nbsp;5741]] ([[Johann Schop]], 1641)<ref>Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_12.htm BWV&nbsp;248(2)/12(3)] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 12 Brich an o schones Morgenlicht.ogg
| title    = 12 Brich an o schones
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|13||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor; Angel, soprano)||''Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen<br />Fürchtet euch nicht''||Strings, continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=10|range=-11}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 13 Und der Engel sprach.ogg
| title    = 13 Und der Engel sprach
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|14||colspan=3|Recitative (bass)||''Was Gott dem Abraham verheißen''||2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, strings, continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 14 Was Gott dem Abraham verheissen.ogg
| title    = 14 Was Gott dem Abraham
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|15||Aria (tenor)||E minor||3/8||''Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet''||Flute I, continuo||BWV 214: Aria, ''Fromme Musen! meine Glieder''
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 15 Frohe Hirten.ogg
| title    = 15 Frohe Hirten
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|16||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)<ref group=II>In some performances sung by the Angel (soprano).</ref>||''Und das habt zum Zeichen''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=12}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 16 Und das habt zum Zeichen.ogg
| title    = 16 Und das habt zum Zeichen
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|17||Chorale||C major||Common||''Schaut hin! dort liegt im finstern Stall''||2 flutes, 2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, strings, continuo||"[[Schaut, schaut, was ist für Wunder dar]]", v.&nbsp;8 (Paul Gerhardt, 1667); [[Zahn number|Zahn]]&nbsp;346 (Martin Luther, 1539)<ref>Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_17.htm BWV&nbsp;248(2)/17(8)] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 17 Schaut hin, dort liegt im finstern Stall.ogg
| title    = 17 Schaut hin
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|18||colspan=3|Recitative (bass)||''So geht denn hin!''||2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 18 So geht denn hin.ogg
| title    = 18 So geht denn hin
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|19||Aria (alto)||G maj/{{Nowrap|[[E minor|E min]]}}||2/4||''Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh'''||Flute I ([[colla parte]] an octave above the alto soloist throughout), 2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, strings, continuo||BWV 213: Aria, ''Schlafe, mein Liebster, und pflege der Ruh''
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 19 Schlafe, mein Liebster.ogg
| title    = 19 Schlafe, mein Liebster
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|20||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und alsobald war da bei dem Engel''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=13}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 20 Und alsobald war da bei dem Engel.ogg
| title    = 20 Und alsobald war da
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|21||Chorus||G major||Split Common (2/2)||''Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe''||2 flutes, 2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, strings, continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=14}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 21 Ehre sei Gott.ogg
| title    = 21 Ehre sei Gott
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|22||colspan=3|Recitative (bass)||''So recht, ihr Engel, jauchzt und singet''||Continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 22 So recht, ihr Engel.ogg
| title    = 22 So recht, ihr Engel
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|23||Chorale||G major||12/8||''Wir singen dir in deinem Heer''||2 flutes, 2 oboe d'amore, 2 oboe da caccia, strings, continuo||"[[Wir singen dir, Immanuel]]", v.&nbsp;2 (Paul Gerhardt, 1656); Zahn&nbsp;346 (Martin Luther, 1539)<ref>Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_23.htm BWV&nbsp;248(2)/23(14)] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 23 Wir singen dir in deinem Heer.ogg
| title    = 23 Wir singen dir
| plain    = yes
}}
|}
<references group=II />

===Part III===
{{see also|Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen, BWV 248 III}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Part III: For the Third Day of Christmas
!No.!!&nbsp;!!Key!!Time!!First line!!Scoring!!Source and Audio
|-
|24||Chorus||D major||3/8||''Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen''||Trumpet I, II, III, timpani, flute I, II, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||BWV 214: Chorus, ''Blühet, ihr Linden in Sachsen, wie Zedern''
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 24 Herrscher des Himmels.ogg
| title    = 24 Herrscher des Himmels
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|25||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=15}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 25 Und da die Engel.ogg
| title    = 25 Und da die Engel
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|26||Chorus||[[A major]]||3/4||''Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem''||Flute I, II, oboe d'amore I, II, strings, continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 26 Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem.ogg
| title    = 26 Lasset uns nun gehen
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|27||colspan=3|Recitative (bass)||''Er hat sein Volk getröst't''||Flute I, II, continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 27 Er hat sein Volk getrost.ogg
| title    = 27 Er hat sein Volk
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|28||Chorale||D major||Common||''Dies hat er alles uns getan''||Flute I, II, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||"[[Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ]]", v.&nbsp;7 (Martin Luther, 1524); Zahn&nbsp;1947 (Wittenberg 1524)<ref name="BWVp474" /><ref name="Dahn0248_28" />
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 28 Dies hat er alles uns getan.ogg
| title    = 28 Dies hat er alles
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|29||[[Duet (music)|Duet]] (soprano, bass)||A major||3/8||''Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen''||Oboe d'amore I, II, continuo||BWV 213: Aria, ''Ich bin deine, du bist meine''
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 29 Herr, dein Mitleid.ogg
| title    = 29 Herr, dein Mitleid
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|30||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und sie kamen eilend''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=16|range=-19}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 30 Und sie kamen eilend.ogg
| title    = 30 Und sie kamen eilend
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|31||Aria (alto)||D&nbsp;maj/[[B minor|B&nbsp;min]]||2/4||''Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder''||Violin solo, continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 31 Schliesse mein Herze.ogg
| title    = 31 Schliesse mein Herze
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|32||colspan=3|Recitative (alto)||''Ja, ja! mein Herz soll es bewahren''||Flute I, II, continuo||
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 32 Ja, ja, mein Herz.ogg
| title    = 32 Ja, ja, mein Herz
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|33||Chorale||G major||Common||''Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren''||Flute I, II, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||"[[Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen]]", v.&nbsp;15 (Paul Gerhardt, 1653); [[Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen|Zahn&nbsp;6461]] ([[Georg Ebeling]], 1666)<ref>Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_33.htm BWV&nbsp;248(3)/33(10)] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 33 Ich will dich mit Fleiss bewahren.ogg
| title    = 33 Ich will dich mit
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|34||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=20}}
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 34 Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um.ogg
| title    = 34 Und die Hirten
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|35||Chorale||[[F-sharp minor|F{{Music|#}} minor]]||Common||''Seid froh, dieweil''||Flute I, II, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||"[[Laßt Furcht und Pein]]", v.&nbsp;4 ([[Christoph Runge]], 1653); [[Wir Christenleut'|Zahn&nbsp;2072]] ([[Kaspar Füger]], 1593)<ref>Luke Dahn (2018). [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0248_35.htm BWV&nbsp;248(3)/35(12)] at {{URL|http://www.bach-chorales.com}}.</ref>
{{Listen
| filename = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 35 Seid froh dieweil.ogg
| title    = 35 Seid froh, dieweil
| plain    = yes
}}
|-
|24||Chorus da capo||D major||3/8||''Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen''||Trumpet I, II, III, timpani, flute I, II, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||BWV 214: Chorus, ''Blühet, ihr Linden in Sachsen, wie Zedern''{{Listen
| filename     = Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Dalal) - 36 Herrscher des Himmels.ogg
| title        = 36 Herrscher des Himmels
| plain        = yes
}}

|}

===Part IV===
{{see also|Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben, BWV 248 IV}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Part IV: For New Year's Day ([[Feast of the Circumcision of Christ|Feast of the Circumcision]])
!No.!!&nbsp;!!Key!!Time!!First line!!Scoring!!Source
|-
|36||Chorus||{{Nowrap|[[F major]]}}||3/8||{{lang|de|Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben}}||Horns I, II, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||BWV 213: Chorus, ''Lasst uns sorgen, lasst uns wachen''
|-
|37||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und da acht Tage um waren''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=2|verse=21}}
|-
|38||colspan=3|Recitative (bass)<br />Arioso (sopr./bass)||''Immanuel, o süßes Wort<br />{{Nowrap|Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben}}''||Strings, continuo||&nbsp;
|-
|39||Aria (soprano & 'Echo' soprano)||C major||6/8||''Flößt, mein Heiland, flößt dein Namen''||Oboe I solo, continuo||BWV 213: Aria, ''Treues Echo dieser Orten''
|-
|40||colspan=3|Recitative (bass)<br />Arioso (soprano)||''Wohlan! dein Name soll allein<br />Jesu, meine Freud' und Wonne''||Strings, continuo||&nbsp;
|-
|41||Aria (tenor)||[[D minor]]||Common||''Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben''||Violin I, II, continuo||BWV 213: Aria, ''Auf meinen Flügeln sollst du schweben''
|-
|42||Chorale||F major||3/4||''Jesus richte mein Beginnen''||Horns I, II, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||Words: Johann Rist, 1642
|}

===Part V===
{{see also|Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen, BWV 248 V}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Part V: For the First Sunday in the New Year<ref group=V>Part V is meant to be performed on the Sunday between New Year's Day and [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]] on 6 January; in years that start on Sunday or Monday or Tuesday (with the [[Dominical letter]]s [[Common year starting on Sunday|A]]/[[Leap year starting on Sunday|AG]], [[Common year starting on Monday|G]]/[[Leap year starting on Monday|GF]], [[Common year starting on Tuesday|F]]/[[Leap year starting on Tuesday|FE]]), there is no such day, e.g in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024 & 2029.</ref>
!No.!!&nbsp;!!Key!!Time!!First line!!Scoring!!Source
|-
|43||Chorus||A maj/{{Nowrap|F{{Music|#}} min}}||3/4||''Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen''||Oboe d'amore I, II, strings, continuo||&nbsp;
|-
|44||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=1}}
|-
|45||Chorus<br />Recitative&nbsp;(alto)<br />Chorus||D major||Common||''Wo ist der neugeborne König der Juden''<ref group=V>{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=2}}</ref><br />''Sucht ihn in meiner Brust<br />Wir haben seinen Stern gesehen''||Oboe d'amore I, II, strings, continuo||BWV 247: ''St Mark Passion'', Chorus,<br />''Pfui dich, wie fein zerbrichst du den Tempel''<ref name="Breig" />
|-
|46||Chorale||A major||Common||''[[Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit|Dein Glanz all' Finsternis verzehrt]]''||Oboe d'amore I, II, strings, continuo||Words: [[Georg Weissel]], 1642
|-
|47||Aria (bass)||F{{Music|#}} minor||2/4||''Erleucht' auch meine finstre Sinnen''||Oboe d'amore I solo, organ (continuo [[tacet]])<ref>{{cite book|editor1=[[Walter Blankenburg]]|editor2=[[Alfred Dürr]]|title=Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248|series=[[Neue Bach-Ausgabe]]|chapter=47. Aria|page=223|publisher=Bärenreiter|ismn=9790006461585|year=1960}}</ref> ||BWV 215: Aria, ''Durch die von Eifer entflammeten Waffen''
|-
|48||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Da das der König Herodes hörte''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=3}}
|-
|49||colspan=3|Recitative (alto)||''Warum wollt ihr erschrecken''||Strings, continuo||&nbsp;
|-
|50||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und ließ versammeln alle Hohenpriester''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=4|range=-6}}
|-
|51||Trio (sopr., alto, ten.)||B minor||2/4||''Ach! wann wird die Zeit erscheinen?''||Violin I solo, continuo||unknown
|-
|52||colspan=3|Recitative (alto)||''Mein Liebster herrschet schon''||Continuo||&nbsp;
|-
|53||Chorale||A major||Common||''Zwar ist solche Herzensstube''||Oboe d'amore I, II, strings, continuo||Words: [[Johann Franck]], 1655
|}
<references group=V />

===Part VI===
{{see also|Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, BWV 248 VI}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Part VI: For the [[Epiphany (holiday)|Feast of Epiphany]]
!No.!!&nbsp;!!Key!!Time!!First line!!Scoring!!Source
|-
|54||Chorus||D major||3/8||''Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben''||Trumpet I, II, III, timpani, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||BWV 248a (lost church cantata)
|-
|55||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor; [[Herod the Great|Herod]], bass)||''Da berief Herodes die Weisen heimlich<br /><br />Ziehet hin und forschet fleißig''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=7|range=-8}}
|-
|56||colspan=3|Recitative (soprano)||''Du Falscher, suche nur den Herrn zu fällen''||Strings, continuo||BWV 248a (lost church cantata)
|-
|57||Aria (soprano)||A maj/{{Nowrap|F{{Music|#}} min/}}{{Nowrap|A maj}}||3/4||''Nur ein Wink von seinen Händen''||Oboe d'amore I, strings, continuo||BWV 248a (lost church cantata)
|-
|58||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Als sie nun den König gehöret hatten''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=9|range=-11}}
|-
|59||Chorale||G major||Common||''[[Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier]]''||Oboe I, II, strings, continuo||Words: Paul Gerhardt, 1656
|-
|60||colspan=3|Recitative (Evangelist, tenor)||''Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum'''||Continuo||{{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Matthew|chapter=2|verse=12}}
|-
|61||colspan=3|Recitative (tenor)||''So geht! Genug, mein Schatz geht nicht von hier''||Oboe d'amore I, II, continuo||BWV 248a (lost church cantata)
|-
|62||Aria (tenor)||B minor||2/4||''Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken''||Oboe d'amore I, II, continuo||BWV 248a (lost church cantata)
|-
|63||colspan=3|Recitative (soprano, alto, tenor, bass)||''Was will der Höllen Schrecken nun''||Continuo||BWV 248a (lost church cantata)
|-
|64||Chorale||D major||Common||''Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen''||Trumpet I, II, III, timpani, oboe I, II, strings, continuo||BWV 248a (lost church cantata); Words: Georg Werner, 1648
|}

==Reception==
{{expand section|date=December 2019}}
In [[Göran Tunström]]'s 1983 Swedish novel ''Juloratoriet'' (''[[The Christmas Oratorio]]'') and its 1996 film version, Bach's work is important for the leading characters.<ref>{{cite book|author=[[Göran Tunström]]|title=Juloratoriet|title-link=The Christmas Oratorio|year=1983|language=sv|isbn=9789100463083|publisher=[[Bonniers]]|postscript=;}} [{{Google books|id=6g3BDAEACAAJ|plainurl=yes}} at Google Books].</ref>

The first English-language monograph on the ''Christmas Oratorio'' was published in 2004.{{sfn|Butt|2006}} It was a translation of a 2002 Dutch-language study by {{ill|Ignace Bossuyt|fr||nl}}.{{sfn|Bossuyt|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Uba5l4K5KvAC&pg=PA9 9]}}

The 2024 German-Austrian TV film ''{{ill|Bach – Ein Weihnachtswunder|de}}'' [''Bach – A Christmas Miracle''] tells a fictional story about the creation of the ''Christmas Oratorio'' in the context of local politics and domestic conflicts in the Bach family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.katholisch.de/artikel/58088-sechs-kantaten-zum-lob-gottes-ard-zeigt-bach-ein-weihnachtswunder|access-date=16 December 2024|title=Sechs Kantaten zum Lob Gottes: ARD zeigt ''Bach – ein Weihnachtswunder''|author=Renate Kortheuer-Schüring|date=8 December 2024|agency=Evangelischer Pressedienst|website=katholisch.de|language=de}}</ref>

==Recordings==
{{main|Christmas Oratorio discography}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Cited sources ==
{{div col|colwidth=45em}}
* {{cite book
|last1= Bossuyt
|first1= Ignace
|author-link1= :fr:Ignace Bossuyt
|translator-last1= Bull
|translator-first1= Stratton
|date= 2004
|title= Johann Sebastian Bach, Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248)
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Uba5l4K5KvAC
|others= Foreword by [[Philippe Herreweghe]]
|location= [[Leuven]]
|publisher= [[Leuven University Press]]
|isbn= 978-90-5867-421-0
}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Butt |first1=John |author-link1=John Butt (musician) |date=1 November 2006 |title=''Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248)''. By Ignace Bossuyt. Trans. by Stratton Bull. pp. 185. |url=https://academic.oup.com/ml/article-abstract/87/4/654/2871085 |journal=[[Music & Letters]]|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |volume=87 |issue=4 |pages=654–656 |doi=10.1093/ml/gcl037 |jstor=4140326 |url-access=subscription }}
* {{cite book |date=1998 |editor1-last=Dürr |editor1-first=Alfred |editor1-link=Alfred Dürr |editor2-last=Kobayashi |editor2-first=Yoshitake |title=[[Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis|Bach Werke Verzeichnis: Kleine Ausgabe – Nach der von Wolfgang Schmieder vorgelegten 2. Ausgabe]] |trans-title=Bach Works Catalogue: Small Edition – After Wolfgang Schmieder's 2nd edition |language=de |others=Kirsten Beißwenger (collaborator). |edition=[[BWV2a|BWV<sup>2a</sup>]] |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=[[Breitkopf & Härtel]] |isbn=978-3-7651-0249-3}} Preface in English and German.
* {{cite book
| last1 = Dürr
| first1 = Alfred
| author-link = Alfred Dürr
| last2 = Jones
| first2 = Richard D. P.
| author2-link = Richard D. P. Jones
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=m9JuwslMcq4C&pg=PA102
| title = The Cantatas of J. S. Bach: With Their Librettos in German-English Parallel Text
| publisher = [[Oxford University Press]]
| year = 2006
| isbn = 978-0-19-929776-4
| pages = 102–105, 820
}}
* {{cite book |last1=Glöckner |first1=Andreas |date=2009 |chapter=Ein weiterer Kantatenjahrgang Gottfried Heinrich Stölzels in Bachs Aufführungsrepertoire? |trans-chapter=Is there another cantata cycle by Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel that belonged to Bach's performance repertoire? |chapter-url=https://journals.qucosa.de/ejournals/bjb/article/view/1861 |editor1-last=Wollny |editor1-first=Peter |editor1-link=Peter Wollny |title=Bach-Jahrbuch 2009 |trans-title=Bach Yearbook 2009 |url=https://journals.qucosa.de/ejournals/bjb/issue/view/170 |series=[[Bach-Jahrbuch]] |language=de |volume=95 |others=[[Neue Bachgesellschaft]] |location=Leipzig |publisher=[[Evangelische Verlagsanstalt]] |pages=95–115 |doi=10.13141/bjb.v2009 |isbn=978-3-374-02749-1 |issn=0084-7682 }}
* {{Cite AV media notes |title=Johann Sebastian Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium – Christmas Oratorio – Oratorium Tempore Nativitatis Christi – BWV 248 |others=[[Henry S. Drinker]] (English lyrics), Paul Horn (piano reduction), John Coombs (Foreword translator) |date=2005 |chapter=Foreword |url=https://www.carusmedia.com/images-intern/medien/30/3124853/3124853x.pdf |access-date=23 December 2019 |last=Hofmann |first=Klaus |author-link=Klaus Hofmann |page=V |type=[[Urtext edition]]: [[vocal score]] |publisher=[[Carus-Verlag]] |id=31.248/53 }}
* {{cite book
| last = Melamed
| first = Daniel R.
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JDlBMqI628UC
| title = J.&nbsp;S. Bach and the German Motet
| publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]
| year = 1995
| isbn = 978-0-521-41864-5
}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rathey |first1=Markus |date=2016 |title=Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio: Music, Theology, Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qp-kDAAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-027525-9 }}
* {{cite book|last=Rathey|first=Markus|year=2016b|title=Bach's Major Vocal Works. Music, Drama, Liturgy|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300219517}}
* {{cite book |last1=Terry |first1=Charles Sanford |author-link1=Charles Sanford Terry (historian) |date=1915 |chapter=The Christmas Oratorio (1734) |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/bachschorals01terruoft/page/41 |title=The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the "Passions" and Oratorios |url=https://archive.org/details/bachschorals01terruoft/page/n3 |series=Bach's Chorals |volume=I |location=Cambridge |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press|University Press]] |pages=41–61 }}
* {{cite book
| last = Wessel
| first = Jens
| url = https://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de//volltexte/2016/7928/pdf/Dissertation.pdf
| chapter = Köthen (1717–1723)
| title = J. S. Bach und die italienische Oper / Drammi per musica für das kurfürstlich-sächsische und polnische Königshaus zwischen 1733 und 1736
| publisher = [[Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg]]
| date = 2015
| pages = 25–44, 47, 99–100
| language = de
| type = dissertation
}}
* {{cite book |last1=Zahn |first1=Johannes |author-link1=Johannes Zahn |date=1891 |title=Die Melodien von den achtzeiligen trochäischen bis zu den zehnzeiligen inkl. enthaltend |trans-title=Melodies in eight [[Trochee|trochaic]] up to and including ten lines |url=https://archive.org/details/1508286757bsb11304502 |series={{ill|Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder|scores|Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (Zahn, Johannes)|lt=Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder}} |language=de |volume=IV |location=Gütersloh |publisher=[[Bertelsmann]] |ref={{harvid|Zahn IV}} }}
* {{cite book |last1=Zahn |first1=Johannes |author-link1=Johannes Zahn |date=1893 |title=Schlüßband: Chronologisches Verzeichnis der benutzten Gesang-, Melodien- und Choralbücher, und die letzten Nachträge |trans-title=Closing volume: chronological catalogue of used song-, melody- and choirbooks, and the last supplements |url=https://archive.org/details/1508288358bsb11304504 |series={{ill|Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder|scores|Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (Zahn, Johannes)|lt=Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder}} |language=de |volume=VI |location=Gütersloh |publisher=[[Bertelsmann]] |ref={{harvid|Zahn VI}} }}
{{div col end}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Buelow|first=George J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1uuuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA272|title=The Late Baroque Era – From the 1680s to 1740|publisher=Springer|year=2016|isbn=978-1-34-911303-3|ref=none}}
* {{cite book|last=Wolff|first=Christoph|author-link=Christoph Wolff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NHpL3cQg0_UC&pg=PA237|title=Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician|publisher=W. W. Norton|year=2002|isbn=978-0-393-32256-9|ref=none}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* Complete text and instrumentation: [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517121312/http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/248I.html Part I], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080523162506/http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/248II.html Part II], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080523203905/http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/248III.html Part III], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080523172258/http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/248IV.html Part IV], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080512130240/http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/248V.html Part V], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080523162511/http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/cantatas/248VI.html Part VI] {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV248.htm Bach Cantatas Website]: Details, recordings & reviews
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Articles/XO-Satz.htm Donald Satz: ''A Bottomless Bucket of Bach – Christmas Oratorio'' (April 2000)]: Details and comparison of four recordings
* {{IMSLP|work=Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)|cname=''Christmas Oratorio''}}
* {{YouTube|playlist=PLBjoEdEVMABKPzoTfMlkgVsK9E195AfdJ|title=Full performance at the Herderkirche, Weimar (video in 2 parts)}}, [[John Eliot Gardiner]], [[English Baroque Soloists]], [[Monteverdi Choir]], [[Claron McFadden]] and [[Katharine Fuge]] (soprano), [[Christoph Genz]] (tenor), [[Bernarda Fink]] (alto), [[Dietrich Henschel]] (bass)
* {{YouTube|id=7367ct_ySvk|time=280s|title=Complete live recording (video)|link=no}}, {{ill|Holger Speck|de}}, [[Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin]], [[NDR Chor|NDR Vokalensemble]], [[Elbphilharmonie]] 7 December 2023

{{Masses, Magnificat, Passions and Oratorios by Johann Sebastian Bach}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Passions and oratorios by Johann Sebastian Bach]]
[[Category:1734 oratorios]]
[[Category:Christmas in Germany]]
[[Category:Christmas music]]
[[Category:Compositions with natural trumpets in D]]
[[Category:Christmas cantatas]]
[[Category:Oratorios based on the Bible]]
[[Category:Epiphany music]]