Bach's Christmas Oratorio

[Marc]

And a new recording has born!

[....] here are the performers:
Veronika Winter, Wiebke Lehmkuhl, Jan Kobow, Markus Flaig,
Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert, Hermann Max

Mmm .... looks interesting.
I liked Max' SMP and SJP (both recordings of the latter, including the Schumann arrangement).
Better start saving money for .... next year (I think).

[Lilas Pastia]

A pity, as it's the only one I've got. Would have loved your asessment!

Well, it' going down on my 'to buy' list !

[Antoine Marchand]

Some years ago a guy quoted –without to indicate the author- a bizarre, almost lysergic, but incredibly exact description of one of my preferred parts of the Christmas Oratorio, the bass aria "Großer Herr, o starker König" (part or cantata I). This was the quote:

"Part 1 of the Christmas Oratorio concludes with a bass aria followed by a chorale. The bass aria is, for me, a delightfully "macho" piece of music. There's an infectious swagger to the music generated by trumpets and the bass voice. When I listen, I can see myself swaggering down the street after spending the night with three lovely women (choose your own number and gender for maximum imagery). The guys on the sidewalk are looking at me with envy and respect (I'm very shallow); the women outside feel that they've missed out on a special event. No wonder I feel good every time I listen to this aria".

     

Yesterday, I discovered the name of the unknown writer: Our Bulldog!, who some years ago (April 2000) wrote some perfect notes on the Bach-Cantatas site, comparing four different versions of the Christmas Oratorio (Herreweghe, Jacobs, Gardiner & Koopman). I just can  recommend to everybody these well written, intelligent and ironic notes by Mr. Donald Satz.

Here another pearl of our, sometimes, politically incorrect reviewer:   

"Part 1 of the Christmas Oratorio contains much outstanding music. The opening Coro is a deliciously festive and power-driven piece lasting almost eight minutes. The brass are highlighted and very important to the music's intensity. Gardiner is perfect here; pacing is superb, excitement is high, and the brass playing and projection is a joy to behold. But the choral work isn't as good as in the Jacobs version which isn't distinctive with the brass. Put the two versions together and you have the perfect performance. Lower in quality is Herreweghe whose brass are excessively piercing although there is some fine choral work. Koopman's has little to offer. The brass are underprojected, and there's nothing distinctive concerning the chorus. But Gardiner and Jacobs provide great readings. This opening is every bit as good as the one in the St. Matthew Passion, although of an entirely different emotional level. I've been listening to the different versions of the piece at full blast for over 2 hours. I think my wife feels like heading for the hills; I feel like leading an armed invasion of Columbia to confiscate all the cocaine. This music has impact".

A Bottomless Bucket of Bach – Christmas Oratorio
by Donald Satz

 

[Lilas Pastia]

"Grosser Herr" is also my favourite aria from the Oratorio. It always reminds me of Escamillo's Toreador Song  . It does swagger in a very macho way. Good work, Bulldog!

[Antoine Marchand]

My favorite "Großer Herr, o starker König":

http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9725887-c0f

[Antoine Marchand]

... I can almost see Don walking by that street and singing that aria! 

[Bulldog]

Some years ago a guy quoted –without to indicate the author- a bizarre, almost lysergic, but incredibly exact description of one of my preferred parts of the Christmas Oratorio, the bass aria "Großer Herr, o starker König" (part or cantata I). This was the quote:

"Part 1 of the Christmas Oratorio concludes with a bass aria followed by a chorale. The bass aria is, for me, a delightfully "macho" piece of music. There's an infectious swagger to the music generated by trumpets and the bass voice. When I listen, I can see myself swaggering down the street after spending the night with three lovely women (choose your own number and gender for maximum imagery). The guys on the sidewalk are looking at me with envy and respect (I'm very shallow); the women outside feel that they've missed out on a special event. No wonder I feel good every time I listen to this aria".

     

Yesterday, I discovered the name of the unknown writer: Our Bulldog!, who some years ago (April 2000) wrote some perfect notes on the Bach-Cantatas site, comparing four different versions of the Christmas Oratorio (Herreweghe, Jacobs, Gardiner & Koopman). I just can  recommend to everybody these well written, intelligent and ironic notes by Mr. Donald Satz.

Here another pearl of our, sometimes, politically incorrect reviewer:   

"Part 1 of the Christmas Oratorio contains much outstanding music. The opening Coro is a deliciously festive and power-driven piece lasting almost eight minutes. The brass are highlighted and very important to the music's intensity. Gardiner is perfect here; pacing is superb, excitement is high, and the brass playing and projection is a joy to behold. But the choral work isn't as good as in the Jacobs version which isn't distinctive with the brass. Put the two versions together and you have the perfect performance. Lower in quality is Herreweghe whose brass are excessively piercing although there is some fine choral work. Koopman's has little to offer. The brass are underprojected, and there's nothing distinctive concerning the chorus. But Gardiner and Jacobs provide great readings. This opening is every bit as good as the one in the St. Matthew Passion, although of an entirely different emotional level. I've been listening to the different versions of the piece at full blast for over 2 hours. I think my wife feels like heading for the hills; I feel like leading an armed invasion of Columbia to confiscate all the cocaine. This music has impact".

A Bottomless Bucket of Bach – Christmas Oratorio
by Donald Satz

 

I didn't realize that it was nine years ago that I wrote those comments.  I'm not as sexually charged as I was back then; radiation for prostate cancer does have a downside.

[Antoine Marchand]

I didn't realize that it was nine years ago that I wrote those comments.  I'm not as sexually charged as I was back then; radiation for prostate cancer does have a downside.

But the irony is intact, however.   

[Marc]

Read the review with pleasure and interest.
Indeed, a tough choice between those performances.
Maybe I prefer Koopman ....

About the hormonal effects of the work: this doesn't come as a surprise. BWV 248 was my secret fave Bach composition during my years of puberty.
Each year I attended a Weihnachts-Oratorium I fell in love with at least a dozen sopranos.

[Coopmv]

Just hearing Elly Ameling in this work is a treat in itself.  This is one of over a half-dozen versions of this work in my Bach collection ...

[Sorin Eushayson]

And a new recording has born!

Because of the tiny print, here are the performers:

Veronika Winter, Wiebke Lehmkuhl, Jan Kobow, Markus Flaig,
Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert, Hermann Max

When I saw that was out I immediately found a copy being sold in Europe and had it imported!  Great performance, I thought; here's a sample...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngw75r99SCU

I've become a fan of Max's as of late.  If only I could get a hold of that OOP Magnificat recording of his as well!

[Marc]

[....]
I've become a fan of Max's as of late.

Count me in.
Since 15 years or so, after purchasing 'his' Matthäus.

If only I could get a hold of that OOP Magnificat recording of his as well!

Say no more.

If I were a rich man ....

.... are you?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RG8JJ6

[Bunny]

My favorites are Jacobs, Koopman and Suzuki (in no particular order).  Which reminds me, Suzuki's Christmas Oratorio is available in a box set from Bis, which is how I bought it last year.  Anyone considering the Suzuki should look at the box set.