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The Spirit of the Season, in Bach's Musical Etching

Czech metal Christmas decoration in the shape of a bell within a star, hanging on evergreen branches
Honza Groh
/
Wikimedia Commons
Czech Christmas decoration

On The Bach Hour, Philippe Herreweghe conducts the composer's Cantata No. 63, "Christians, etch this day in metal and marble," written for Christmas Day.

On the program:

English Suite No. 4 in F, BWV 809 - Angela Hewitt, piano

Cantata BWV 63 Christen, ätzet diesen Tag (translation) - Carolyn Sampson, soprano;  Ingeborg Danz, alto;  Mark Padmore, tenor,;  Sebastien Noack, bass;  Collegium Vocale Gent, Philippe Herreweghe, conductor

Chorale preludes: Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BWV 605, and Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar, BWV 607 - Simon Preston, organ (Klosterkirke, Soro)