December 21st, 2004 at 3:23 pm
Over ten years ago (let’s date myself here), the choir and orchestra at University of Missouri-Rolla performed J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. It remains to this day one of my favorite pieces of Christmas music. We had sung it in English, but it sounds just as gut auf Deutsch. I cannot recommended this highly enough; unfortunately the hour and a half is more than a tolerable length of a simple Christmas carol. In it the hymn singer will find several familiar melodies, such as Martin Luther’s “Vom Himmel hoch”, a.k.a. “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” (MIDI).
In this work, BMV 248, Bach evokes a wide range of choral emotions, beginning with an angelic exhortation to man to shout and rejoice for the birth of the Savior. The second, third, and fourth movements covers the Biblical account, a meditation on the birth, and a prayer for man’s preparation to receive the Lord.
It doesn’t take long, though, for Bach to remind the Hymnesänger of his time the purpose of Christmas. The fifth movement is not joyful or festive, but pensive. It comes from a theme originating in one of Bach’s other master works, St. Matthew’s Passion. Some today will note elements of “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” (MIDI).
The cycle continues five more times with different text and melodies (it was meant to be sung in pieces on different dates), but the overall message is clear; there is indeed joy at his birth, but it’s just a precursor to the joy found when “Death, devil, hell, and error to nothing are reduced” in the final Chorale.
Though Bach repeats his message for his audience in the 1600’s, the message is worth repeating 400 years later. As much joy as we may feel in the celebration of our self-established “holy days”, the best is yet to come. We may enjoy the company of our friends and family and venerate those who have passed, but our present happiness is temporary. How much more joyful is the time when “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelations 21:4) We don’t just celebrate the miracle of 2000 years ago, give or take 10 years; we celebrate the miracle that occurred 30-plus (Luke 3:23) years after His birth, and we await His final miracle for us.
I do wish you a Merry Christmas, merry for the right Reason.
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