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Bach resists pressure to give up his status as music director for Christmas services at Leipzig’s University Church. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Christmas can be special wherever you live, but to experience a truly Christmassy Christmas, many would say that the only place to go is Germany. Plenty of Britain’s favourite Yuletide traditions originated there and Germany’s citizens have always had a special knack for celebrating this time of year. This was certainly true in J.S. Bach’s lifetime and, right through his career, he produced quantities of amazing Christmas music that we still love and revere today. All this week, Donald Macleod invites us to join Bach and his family during the Christmas season, at five different periods in his life, to see how his story develops and revel in the glorious works he created for Christmastime.

In this final Programme, Donald follows Bach and his musicians as they’re forced to sprint between churches on Christmas Day, and we see the old composer produce a splendid final Christmas Cantata for the scholars of Leipzig University.

Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110: Opening Chorus
Maria Keohane, soprano; Carlos Mena, alto; Julian Prégardien, tenor; Stéphan MacLeod, bass; Ricercar Consort; directed by Philippe Pierlot

A Musical Offering, BWV 1079, Sonata sopr'il Sogetto Reale a Traversa, Violino e Continuo: 1. Largo & 2. Allegro
Barthold Kuijken, flute; Sigiswald Kuijken, violin; Wieland Kuijken, viola; Robert Kohnen, harpsichord

Canonic Variations on 'Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her', BWV 769
Simon Preston, organ

Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV 191
Claron McFadden, soprano; Christoph Genz, tenor; Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists; directed by Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Puer natus in Bethlehem, BWV 603
Dunedin Consort, directed by John Butt