First Sunday after Christmas

Stones figure prominently in BWV 152 and God is described as a fountain in the tenor recitative of BWV 28.  The photo was taken on Sunday December 29, 2013 at the University of Southern Indiana.

Cantatas for the Sunday after Christmas

Cantatas for the Sunday after Christmas include BWV 152, BWV 122 and BWV 28.

Recordings of BWV 152 can be found here.
BWV 152 is an early cantata by Bach and is marked by minimal instrumental accompaniment.

Recordings of BWV 122 are listed here.
In BWV 122, the accompaniment to the Bass Aria is stunning.

Recordings of BWV 28 are compiled here.
Of the three "Sunday after Christmas cantatas," this one is the most upbeat, as it explicitly anticipates the New Year.

Third Day of Christmas, Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

On the Third Day of Christmas, December  27, 2013, the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist is celebrated.  On this Third Day of Christmas I visited St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church in Daylight, Indiana.  Next to the church's cornerstone I have placed the CD slip cover of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage CD for the Third Day of Christmas.

Cantatas for the Third Day of Christmas

Cantatas for the Third Day of Christmas include BWV 64, BWV 133 and BWV 151.

Recordings of BWV 64 are found here.
The three chorales would have been familiar to the congregations in attendance, and will sound "familiar" to the modern ear.  Also, note the striking accompaniments of the violin with the soprano aria, and of the oboe d'amore with the alto aria.

Recordings of BWV 133 are listed here.


Recordings of BWV 151 compiled here.
The alto aria is the centerpiece of this cantata, and has a memorable melody.  Note the emphasis on the D at various places in this aria.

Second Day of Christmas, December 26, 2013

Here is an image taken on December 26, St. Stephen's Day, which includes an ornament from the Czech Republic, and the book Good King Wenceslas.  St. Stephen's Day is mentioned in the carol, Good King Wenceslas, and was the subject of Christmas Mystery 2010. Wenceslas is from what is now the Czech Republic.

Cantatas for the Second Day of Christmas

 

Cantatas for the Second Day of Christmas include BWV 40, BWV 57 and BWV 121.

Recordings of BWV 40 can be found here.  This is a grand cantata, that can be listened to again and again.

Recordings of BWV 57 are seen here.  With a bass aria that is stunning.

Recordings of BWV 121 are listed here. With another bass aria that is quite stunning.

Christmas Day Cantatas

The Chistmas Day Cantatas include BWV 63, BWV 91, BWV 110, BWV 191. 

Here is quite a good recording of BWV 63. 
BWV 63 is truly a majestic cantata.  Worth listening to again and again.

And more BWV 63 recordings are located here.

BWV 91 recordings are listed here.

BWV 110 recordings can be accessed here.

BWV 191 recordings can be found here.

Presenting the Christmas Prize to the winner of Christmas Mystery 2013

Christmas Day, December 25, 2013, I present Barbara Barrett, my cousin and the winner of Christmas Mystery 2013, a prize for solving the Christmas Mystery puzzle.

Earlier in the evening I had referenced the opening line of BWV 63, one of the Christmas Day Cantatas, as an introduction to the prayer before the meal.