jmc's classics
among the lesser known Christmas music is Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) which is actually a series of six contatas about the nativity of Christ. Camille Saint Seans also wrote a Christmas Ortatorio (Opus#12) Which I heard live a few years ago at a Christmas Concert. There are a few records available of this work. I have a copy of Bach's work it is on the Naxos label with the Hungarian Radi Choir. This is a good recording. Naxos is a budget label and uses lesser known orchestras and soloists. many of whom come from the former Soviet Block where copy right laws were different.
I don't know much about Saint Sean's work there are several versions available of this work. Saint Seans was Catholic and he was an organist at the Church of La Madeline (St. Mary Magdaline) in Paris France. This is a famous church in Paris. St. Mary Magdalene is one of the patron saints of France. Legend has it that she had preached in what is now France. This work was written in 1858 for soloists, choir, organ and orchestra. Also it would not be Christmas with out hearing Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's Nutckracker or What child is This? As I have said there are many awesome areas from the Messiah. Nutcracker was one of the firtst pieces of music I remember. I recall when I was five watching it on TV. "What Child is this? " is taken form Ralph Vaughan-Williams' Green Sleeves. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was a British composer who had an interest in British folk melodies. I have a CD of him conducting Bach's St. Matthew passion. it is one of the few versions available in English.
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