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[André]

The Handel will be new to me.



Turning the clock back on these concertos ...




A great series.

[Karl Henning]

What is the Christmas Magnificat?

[JBS]

What is the Christmas Magnificat?

Thus sayeth Wikipedia

In 1723, after taking up his post as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, Bach set the text of the Magnificat in a twelve movement composition in the key of E-flat major. For a performance at Christmas he inserted four hymns (laudes) related to that feast. This version, including the Christmas interpolations, was given the number 243.1 (previously 243a) in the catalogue of Bach's works.[1]

Likely for the feast of Visitation of 1733, or another feast in or around that year, Bach produced a new version of his Latin Magnificat, without the Christmas hymns: instrumentation of some movements was altered or expanded, and the key changed from E-flat major to D major, for performance reasons of the trumpet parts. This version of Bach's Magnificat is known as BWV 243.2 (previously BWV 243).[2]

I am a bit biased because the D Major was the first work I sang in (as a member of the chorus) in Glee Club in college, and have loved it ever since--but the extra movements never moved me much when I listened to the E Flat Major version, and I think my only recordings of it are the ones in the Teldec and Hanssler Complete Bach sets.

ETA
It's also in the series Herreweghe recorded for Harmonia Mundi. So I have three recordings.

The Herreweghe tracklistings reveal the extra movements are two brief German chorales, a short Latin "Gloria in excelsis" from the chorus, and a three minute duet for soprano and bass on a Latin text.

[Karl Henning]

Thus sayeth Wikipedia
I am a bit biased because the D Major was the first work I sang in (as a member of the chorus) in Glee Club in college, and have loved it ever since--but the extra movements never moved me much when I listened to the E Flat Major version, and I think my only recordings of it are the ones in the Teldec and Hanssler Complete Bach sets.

ETA
It's also in the series Herreweghe recorded for Harmonia Mundi. So I have three recordings.

The Herreweghe tracklistings reveal the extra movements are two brief German chorales, a short Latin "Gloria in excelsis" from the chorus, and a three minute duet for soprano and bass on a Latin text.

I likewise sang the Mag in D at Wooster. And thanks!