Composed for celebrations from Christmas to Epiphany and first produced in Leipzig in 1734–35, Bach's Christmas Oratorio unfolds movingly in a set of six cantatas unified by a single narrative recounting the birth of Christ. Traditional passages from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew are presented in recitative, interspersed with arias and choruses that provide powerful emotional and contemplative responses to the story.
Among the most famous segments of the Christmas Oratorio are the great opening chorus, "Jauchzet, frohlocket!" the beautiful pastoral Sinfonia, the bass aria "Grosser Herr, und starker König," the alto aria "Schlafe, mein Liebster" and the closing chorus, "Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen." This masterpiece of sacred music, for centuries a favorite of concert audiences and church congregations throughout the Christmas season, has been reproduced directly from the authoritative Bach-Gesellschaft edition published by Breitkopf & Härtel.