Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) <br /> <br />“Christen, ätzet diesen Tag” <br /> <br />(Christians, engrave this day) <br /> <br />BWV 63 <br /> <br /> <br />Event: <br />Cantata for Christmas Day <br /> <br />Readings: <br />Epistle: Titus 2: 11-14 / Isaiah 9: 2-7; Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14 <br /> <br />Composed: <br />Weimar, 1714-15 <br /> <br />1st performance: <br />December 25, 1714 - Weimar <br /> <br />2nd performance: <br />December 25, 1723 – Leipzig <br /> <br />3rd performance: <br />December 25, 1729 - Leipzig <br /> <br />Text: <br />Johann Michael Heineccius (1674 - 1722) <br /> <br />Scoring: <br />Soloists: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass; 4-part Chorus <br />Orchestra: 4 trumpets, timpani, 3 oboes, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, organ, continuo <br /> <br /> <br />Mvt. 1: Chorus (00:00) <br />Mvt. 2: Recitative (05:07) <br />Mvt. 3: Aria – Duet (08:11) <br />Mvt. 4: Recitative (16:14) <br />Mvt. 5: Aria – Duet (17:08) <br />Mvt. 6: Recitative (21:00) <br />Mvt. 7: Chorus (22:03) <br /> <br /> <br />Soprano: Ingrid Schmithüsen <br />Alto: Yoshikazu Mera <br />Tenor: Makoto Sakurada <br />Bass: Peter Kooy <br /> <br />Bach Collegium Japan <br /> <br />Masaaki Suzuki <br /> <br />Jul 1997, at the Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel, Japan.
