Winter Concert 2026 - Bach Christmas Oratorio
Practice notes and resource links
Bach: CyberBass, Choralia.
Choralia has separate pages for the 6 parts of the oratorio (also in two different pitches). The link above is just for the search page, so there you need to search for "Bach Christmas".
You can also find recordings on YouTube.
Since it seems to go better sung in German, here is a pronunciation guide.
Movements for performance
The entire oratorio consists of six separate cantatas (parts I - VI) intended for performance on six separate days and lasting a total of 3 hours. We shall sing only part of it. Roughly speaking, we'll take our selection from parts I, II, III and VI. Here is a complete list of all the choral numbers from those parts. As the term progresses, some of them might be cut out.
Part I - Jesus born in Bethlehem
1 Chorus "Shout ye exultant"
5 Chorale "How can I fitly"
7 (possibly) Chorale "He came among us meek and poor"
9 Chorale "Ah, Jesus Child"
Part II - The shepherds in the field
12 Chorale "Break forth"
17 Chorale "Behold, in gloomy"
21 Chorus "Glory to God"
23 Chorale " In chorus now"
Part III - The shepherds go to Bethlehem
24 Chorus "Ruler of heaven"
26 Chorus "Let us even go"
28 Chorale "That God has blessed"
33 Chorale "The, my Master"
35 Chorale "Rejoice and sing"
Part VI - The wise men at Bethlehem
54 Chorus "Lord, when our haughty"
59 Chorale "I stand beside"
64 Chorale "The triumph is completed"
The entire oratorio consists of six separate cantatas (parts I - VI) intended for performance on six separate days and lasting a total of 3 hours. We shall sing only part of it. Roughly speaking, we'll take our selection from parts I, II, III and VI. Here is a complete list of all the choral numbers from those parts. As the term progresses, some of them might be cut out.
Part I - Jesus born in Bethlehem
1 Chorus "Shout ye exultant"
5 Chorale "How can I fitly"
7 (possibly) Chorale "He came among us meek and poor"
9 Chorale "Ah, Jesus Child"
Part II - The shepherds in the field
12 Chorale "Break forth"
17 Chorale "Behold, in gloomy"
21 Chorus "Glory to God"
23 Chorale " In chorus now"
Part III - The shepherds go to Bethlehem
24 Chorus "Ruler of heaven"
26 Chorus "Let us even go"
28 Chorale "That God has blessed"
33 Chorale "The, my Master"
35 Chorale "Rejoice and sing"
Part VI - The wise men at Bethlehem
54 Chorus "Lord, when our haughty"
59 Chorale "I stand beside"
64 Chorale "The triumph is completed"
Rehearsals week by week, 7.30pm in Old village hall unless otherwise stated
3/9/26
Sang through all the movements listed above except for no. 7.
It is not yet decided whether to sing in German (which fits the music much better) or English. For the moment we are focusing on the music, so singing "la" is enough. If we sing in German I'll put a pronunciation guide on this page. The choruses have a lot of repetition, so that means relatively few words to get used to.
10/9/26
Sang through numbers 5, 1, 7, 9
Tried both English and German, and the German seemed to flow better. Click here for a pronunciation guide.
17/9/26
Sang through numbers 5, 21, 12, 23, 17, 1
AGM announced for 12 November.
You may find it useful to print out the German pronunciation guide and bring it to rehearsals.
24/9/26
No rehearsal this week.
1/10/26
12, 23, then focused on Part III: numbers 24, 26, 28, 33, 35.
8/10/26
15/10/26
22/10/26
29/10/26 There may be a half term break this week. Watch out for further announcements.
5/11/26
12/11/26
Annual General Meeting half way through, about 8.30pm.
19/11/26
26/11/26
3/12/26
Thursday 10/12/26 - Rehearsal in Brixworth church, 7.30
Friday 11/12/26 - Concert, Brixworth church
Final rehearsal in Brixworth church, time to be announced.
Concert 7.30
Dress:
Ladies: red top (jumper/shirt), black trousers/skirt
Gentlemen: red bow tie & dinner suits
3/9/26
Sang through all the movements listed above except for no. 7.
It is not yet decided whether to sing in German (which fits the music much better) or English. For the moment we are focusing on the music, so singing "la" is enough. If we sing in German I'll put a pronunciation guide on this page. The choruses have a lot of repetition, so that means relatively few words to get used to.
10/9/26
Sang through numbers 5, 1, 7, 9
Tried both English and German, and the German seemed to flow better. Click here for a pronunciation guide.
17/9/26
Sang through numbers 5, 21, 12, 23, 17, 1
AGM announced for 12 November.
You may find it useful to print out the German pronunciation guide and bring it to rehearsals.
24/9/26
No rehearsal this week.
1/10/26
12, 23, then focused on Part III: numbers 24, 26, 28, 33, 35.
8/10/26
15/10/26
22/10/26
29/10/26 There may be a half term break this week. Watch out for further announcements.
5/11/26
12/11/26
Annual General Meeting half way through, about 8.30pm.
19/11/26
26/11/26
3/12/26
Thursday 10/12/26 - Rehearsal in Brixworth church, 7.30
Friday 11/12/26 - Concert, Brixworth church
Final rehearsal in Brixworth church, time to be announced.
Concert 7.30
Dress:
Ladies: red top (jumper/shirt), black trousers/skirt
Gentlemen: red bow tie & dinner suits
