Program

Corporate Sponsor: Vorderman Motor Werks

J. S. Bach (arr. I. Stravinsky)

Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch da komm’ ich her (BWV 769)

Chorale: Instruments

Variation I: Instruments

Variation III: Instruments & Choir

Angel: From heaven above to earth I come

To bring Good News to every home;

Glad tidings of great joy I bring,

Whereof I now will say and sing.

Variation V: Instruments & Choir

Angel: Born is the Christ, our God and Lord,

Who in all need shall aid afford;

He will Himself your Savior be

From all your sins to set you free.

J. S. Bach

Christmas Oratorio, Parts I-III (BWV 248)

Part I (First Day of Christmas) – Luke 2:1-7

1. Chorus

Shout ye exultant this Day of Salvation.

Tell ye what God in the highest has done!

Fear ye no longer, forsake lamentation,

Sing with glad voices the birth of His Son.

Reverence the Highest with glorious singing.

Honor the Name of the Lord, praises bringing.

(lines 1-4 above repeated)

2. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And in those same days it came to pass, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world enroll for taxes, and everyone went, that he might be recorded, each going into his own city. And also there went up Joseph from Galilee, up out of Nazareth to the city of David in Judea, which is called Bethlehem, for Joseph was of the house and of the lineage of David; that there he might be enrolled for tax with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with Child. And while they yet were there, it came to pass that she should be delivered.

3. Alto Recitative

At last, beloved Bridegroom mine,

At last, Thou Hero of David’s line,

Art born, our consolation,

To be the world’s salvation.

At last is Jacob’s Star now shining.

Behold, its glorious ray.

Rise, Zion, put away

From thee repining.

Thy joy is here today.

4. Alto Aria

Prepare thyself, Zion,

With tender affection,

The Fairest, the Dearest, Thy coming to see.

With what yearning

Must thy heart today be burning.

Welcome thy Bridegroom

With loving devotion.

5. Chorale (Passion Chorale)

O Lord, how shall I meet Thee

How welcome Thee aright?

All nations long to greet Thee,

My hope, my heart’s delight!

O kindle, dearest Jesus,

Thy lamp within my breast,

That I may know what pleases

Thee, Lord, my heavenly Guest.

6. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And there she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and made His cradle in a manger, for there was no room for them in the inn.

7. Soprano Chorale (Luther’s All Praise to Thee Eternal God, st. 6) and

Bass Recitative

Soprano: For us to earth He cometh poor.

Bass: Who is there rightly can assess the love that fills our Savior’s breast?

Soprano: Our redemption to secure.

Bass: Yea, who can understand how sorely He pities us, by sin oppressed?

Soprano: That heavenly riches we may own.

Bass: The Highest gave His only Son, and thus for man salvation won.

Soprano: And dwell with angels round His throne.

Bass: So God became a man that He might save us.

Soprano: Kyrie eleison!

8. Bass Aria

Mighty God, O great Creator!

Dear Redeemer, humble Savior!

Car’st Thou not for earth’s acclaim.

Though Thou dost the world sustain,

And in majesty art highest,

Now in lowly manger liest.

9. Chorale (Luther’s From Heaven Above, st. 13)

Ah! dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Make Thee a bed soft undefiled,

Within my heart, that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

Part II (Second Christmas Day) – Luke 2:8-14

10. Instrumental Sinfonia (Shepherds’ Pastorale)

11. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And there in that same country were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

12. Chorale

Break forth, O beauteous, heavenly light,

And usher in the morning;

Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright,

But hear the Angel’s warning.

This Child now weak in infancy,

Our confidence and joy shall be,

The power of Satan breaking,

Our peace eternal making.

13. Tenor Evangelist Recitative and

Soprano Angelus

Rec.: And the angel said to them:

Angel: “Be not afraid, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all

people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

14. Bass Recitative

What God to Abraham predicted

He now announces to the shepherds is fulfilled.

What first a shepherd heard foretold – what God for us hath willed –

Is to a shepherd also now revealed accomplished as predicted –

To shepherds both times given.

15. Tenor Aria

Joyful shepherds, haste, ah, haste ye.

Why the precious moments waste ye?

Haste the gracious Child to see!

Go, your joy unbounded be;

There will find ye love perfected.

Go, to comfort hearts dejected.

16. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And this shall be a sign to you:

Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

17. Chorale

Behold! In gloomy stable stall

There lies the Ruler of us all;

Where once the hungry oxen fed

The Virgin finds her Child a bed.

18. Bass Recitative

So go ye, there, ye shepherds go

This wondrous thing to know;

And when you find God’s only Son,

Lying in a manger lowly,

Then there beside that cradle holy,

In sweet harmonious tone,

Sing all with one accord

To soothe your Infant Lord.

19. Alto Aria

Slumber, my Dearest, and take Thy repose,

Waking hereafter to be our Salvation.

Comfort take Thou, as here we do bow

In our heartfelt exultation.

20. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host

all praising God and saying:

21. Chorus

Glory to God in the highest,

And peace to all people,

Who receive God’s grace and mercy!

22. Bass Recitative

‘Tis well, that angels thus should sing

To us this Day such joy doth bring!

Sing then! Our voices let us raise

And join with them in songs of praise.

23. Chorus

With all Thy hosts, O Lord, we raise

One mighty voice our songs of praise.

That Thou our long awaited Guest

Hast come at last, beloved and blest.

Part III (Third Christmas Day) – Luke 2:15-20

24. Chorus

Ruler of heaven, as each here rejoices,

May’st Thou be pleased e’en though weak be our voices,

As now Thy Zion with Psalms Thee exalts!

Hear Thou the sounds of our hearts’ jubilation,

Homage to welcome our promised Salvation,

Which by Thy birth now it standeth secure!

25. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And as the angels were gone from them into heaven, then did the shepherds say to one another:

26. Chorus

Let us even go now to Bethlehem,

And see this thing that is come to pass,

Which the Lord hath made know to us.

27. Bass Recitative

Redeemer of His folk,

For Israel He lifts the yoke,

From Zion sends to us relief,

To end our woe and grief.

Ye shepherds, make haste every one,.

See! What your God has done.

28. Chorale (Luther’s All Praise to Thee Eternal God, st. 5)

All this for us Thy love hath done;

Thus to Thee our love is won;

For this our joyful songs we raise

And shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.

Kyrie eleison!

29. Soprano and Bass Aria Duet

Lord, Thy mercy, Thy compassion,

Comforts us and makes us free.

With Thy wondrous love and kindness

Thou dost heal our sin and blindness.

And our gracious Advocate Thou wilt be.

30. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And they came with haste and found their way to both Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger. And having seen it, they made known abroad concerning the saying, which had been spoken unto them about this Child. And all that heard it wondered at the things, which had been spoken unto them by the prophets. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

31. Alto Aria

Hold in my heart now

This news of salvation,

Firm in faith its truth believe.

Let thou this marvel

Exalt thee and mould thee,

Ever uphold thee,

Strengthen thee when faith is weak

32. Alto Recitative

Ah, yea, my heart will keep and cherish

The truth received this Blessed Day,

That God is born to save us,

And brings a joy that will not perish.

33. Chorale (Gerhardt’s All My Heart This Night Rejoices, st. 15)

Dearest Lord, Thee will I cherish.

Though my breath

Fail in death,

Yet I shall not perish,

But with Thee abide forever,

There on high

In that joy,

Which can vanish never.

34. Tenor Evangelist Recitative

And the shepherds then returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told, yea was told to them.

35. Chorale

Rejoice and sing!

Your God and King

As man is born He lays aside His glory;

He is adored

As Christ the Lord,