Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Cantata 3 of BWV 248 - live concert from Austria

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Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is a work of profound beauty and heartfelt devotion, composed to celebrate the Christmas season. Divided into six cantatas (this is the third in our series of six videos), it was originally performed over the festive period of 1734-1735 in Leipzig, accompanying key liturgical services from Christmas Day to Epiphany. Each cantata reflects a different scene of the Nativity story, from the angelic announcement to the shepherds, to the adoration of the Magi. Together, these sections form a narrative of faith, wonder, and hope, underscored by some of Bach’s most exquisite music. The performance takes place in the breathtaking Stiftskirche Waldhausen, a venue that resonates with history and spirituality - perfectly suited to this masterpiece. In the first three minutes of each of the six videos, I provide an introduction to the Stiftskirche Waldhausen. This is a Baroque church in a picturesque village in Austria. Since each of the videos start with the exact same introduction (images, the sound of the church bells ringing, …), a viewer could easily start to think: “I’ve seen this already!”! Each cantata is of around 30 minutes in duration, so it makes sense to have a separate video for each. My understanding is that the videos could potentially be viewed in any order and, accordingly, a viewer may not have started with the first - so it makes sense to include the introduction in each video. If you want to go directly to the start of a cantata’s actual performance, the solution is simply to skip the first 3 minutes and 20 seconds! I should also take this opportunity to mention that, as at the time of writing (27th December), only the first 3 of the 6 videos are available. I slipped on an icy pavement recently and broke my right wrist. Obviously, having to do video editing with only a left hand has slowed the process considerably :-( Nevertheless, I hope to complete and upload the cantata 4, 5 and 6 videos within the next few days. Please subscribe by clicking on the following link to stay updated with our latest uploads: www.youtube.com/@MasterpiecesOfMusicAndArt?sub_confirmation=1 Please also hit the ‘Like’ button if you have enjoyed the video. Finally, I take this opportunity to wish everybody seasonal greetings - let us hope for a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!