JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

For the Third Day of Christmas

Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us BWV 64

17:39

1

1

Chorus - Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us,

2:29

2

2

Chorale - All this He has done for us

0:43

3

3

Recitative: Alto - Hence, world! Retain, then, your possessions,

0:37

4

4

Chorale - Why enquire after the world and all its treasures,

0:49

5

5

Aria: Soprano - All that the world contains must disperse as smoke.

5:31

6

6

Recitative: Bass - That Heaven awaits me is certain,

1:11

7

7

Aria: alto - Nothing do I desire of this world,

5:11

8

8

Chorale - Good night, existence which the world has chosen;

1:07

Sweet comfort, my Jesus comes BWV 151

17:07

9

1

Aria: Soprano - Sweet comfort, my Jesus comes,

9:49

10

2

Recitative: Bass - Rejoice, O my heart,

1:04

11

3

Aria: Alto - In Jesus' meekness I can find comfort.

4:46

12

4

Recitative: Tenor - O precious Son of God,

0:51

13

5

Chorale - Today He opens wide again the door to beautiful paradise,

0:37

Blessed is the man BWV 57

22:56

(For the Second Day of Christmas)

Dialogue: Soul (Soprano), Jesus (Bass)

14

1

Aria: Bass - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:

3:39

15

2

Recitative: Soprano - Ah! this sweet comfort

1:21

16

3

Aria: Soprano - I would desire to die, to die,

6:16

17

4

Recitative (Dialogue) - Jesus - I give you my hand, Soul - Ah! sweetest pledge of love,

0:26

18

5

Aria: Bass - Jesus - Yes, yes, I can strike your enemies,

4:54

19

6

Recitative (Dialogue): Bass, Soprano - Jesus - In my bosom lie peace and life, Soul - Ah, Jesus, were I already with Thee!

1:30

20

7

Aria: Soprano - I swiftly end my earthly life,

4:08

21

8

Chorale - Comply, my beloved, with my wishes,

0:41

I rejoice in Thee BWV 133

18:15

22

1

Chorus (Chorale) I rejoice in Thee

3:54

23

2

Aria: Alto - Be of good cheer! A holy body enfolds the Highest's unfathomable being.

3:49

24

3

Recitative: Tenor - An Adam may, when filled with terror at seeing Christ,

1:03

25

4

Aria: Soprano - How beautifully these words sound in my ears:

7:17

26

5

Recitative: Bass - Well then my comforted heart does not consider the pain and fear of death.

1:02

27

6

Chorale: So be it; I shall,

1:09

Gillian Keith soprano BWV 64, 151

Joanne Lunn soprano BWV 57

Katherine Fuge soprano BWV 133

Robin Tyson alto BWV 64, 133

William Towers alto BWV 151

James Gilchrist tenor

Peter Harvey bass

John Eliot Gardiner

Cover photography by Steve McCurry