Sunday, December 17

Bach’s Cantata No. 3 from Christmas Oratorio - 11:00 am

Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Northminster Presbyterian Church

Choir and Orchestra present:
Bach’s Cantata No. 3 from Christmas Oratorio
During worship (9:00 and 11:00 am)

One of the rich Northminster December traditions is Chancel Choir and orchestra’s musical offering during one of the Advent Sundays. We hope you can attend worship (9 or 11 am) Sunday, Dec. 17th as these forces and soloists present Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata No. 3 (“Herrscher des Himmels, erhore das Lallen”) from his Christmas Oratorio.

Composed in 1734, the Christmas Oratorio (Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248) is a collection of six free-standing cantatas composed for six feast days across the two weeks of Christmas, beginning with Christmas Day and continuing through the feast of Epiphany. These cantatas were offered in Bach’s two churches in Leipzig in 1734 – 1735.

The third cantata, set for soloists, chorus, strings, oboes, flutes, trumpets and timpani, is exuberant in nature and focusses on the shepherds’ joy and subsequent travels to Bethlehem after hearing of the Christ child’s birth.

One of the great gifts of these musical Advent Sundays at Northminster is the fact that the chorus and orchestra are so physically close to the listeners, which creates an aural, visual and spiritual experience. Bach’s music has a power and expressivity that transcends the earthbound, so hearing and seeing this cantata in worship affords one the opportunity to come away inspired, filled and renewed.

On behalf of the Chancel Choir and instrumentalists from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, we appreciate this opportunity and hope you’ll share this worship service of scripture, prayer and music with us.