Classical

J.S. Bach Christmas Oratorio

The Christmas Oratorio (German: Weihnachts-Oratorium), BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 and incorporates music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a now lost church cantata, BWV 248a. The next performance was not until 17 December 1857 by the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin under Eduard Grell. The Christmas Oratorio is a particularly sophisticated example of parody music. The author of the text is unknown, although a likely collaborator was Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander).

 

This recording was performed on December 14th, 2014 by the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra and Augustana Lutheran Church Chancel Choir. Movement number 8 is a Bass Aria with accompaniment by Trumpet 1.

Eino Tamberg Konzert Op. 42

Eino Tamberg (27 May 1930 – 24 December 2010) was an Estonian composer. Tamberg was born in Tallinn. He studied music composition with Eugen Kapp at the Tallinn Conservatory, graduating in 1953. In Estonia he first became known with his song cycle Viis romanssi Sándor Petöfi luulele (1955) based on poetry by Sándor Petőfi, and with his Concerto Grosso (1956), for which he won a gold medal at an international music festival in Moscow. Tamberg was an important initiator of the anti-romantic composition movement of the late 1950s. His vision on music composition belonged to the so-called New Wave in Estonian music. He became more known outside Estonia from approximately 1960, writing music for a large variety of genres, but in particular music for theater, and symphonic music. He died in Tallinn.

 

The trumpet concerto remains one of his most popular works and was performed not only in Europe, but also in Hong Kong and Singapore. This is the 2012 National Trumpet Competition undergraduate solo division finalist performance.

Erich Korngold – Much Ado About Nothing, Op. 11

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (May 29, 1897 – November 29, 1957) was an Austrian-born composer and conductor. A child prodigy, he became one of the most important and influential composers in the history of Hollywood. He was a noted pianist and composer of classical music, along with music for Hollywood films, and the first composer of international stature to write Hollywood scores.

 

Much Ado About Nothing, Op. 11 was composed as incidental music to the play by Shakespeare. This recording was performed by the Stratus Chamber Orchestra.