Eleven years after his Magnificat composed for his first Christmas at Leipzig, Bach combined six cantatas detailing the Christmas story into one – the Christmas Oratorio.
Today we have the opening movement of the first cantata – Jauchzet! Frohlocket! – the writing is more energetic to capture the exhortation to rejoice, opening with a timpani solo!
Jauchzet, frohlocket! auf, preiset die Tage, Rühmet, was heute der Höchste getan!
Shout for joy, exult, rise up, glorify the day, praise what today the highest has done!
Lasset das Zagen, verbannet die Klage, Stimmet voll Jauchzen und Fröhlichkeit an!
Abandon hesitation, banish lamentation, begin to sing with rejoicing and exaltation!
Dienet dem Höchsten mit herrlichen Chören, Laßt uns den Namen des Herrschers verehren!
Serve the highest with glorious choirs, let us honour the name of our ruler!
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