Christmas Oratorio

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Christmas Oratorio. Choral work by Bach for soloists, ch., and orch., text by Picander and Bach, being biblical story of the Nativity with commentary. Comprises 6 cantatas designed for perf. in Leipzig on 3 days of Christmas fest., New Year's Day, New Year's Sunday, and Epiphany. Some of the mus. was comp. for secular words. Schütz also wrote a Christmas Oratorio (1664). Ger. title is Weihnachts-Oratorium.