Three Chorales From the Christmas Oratorio, (Weihnachts-Oratorium) BWV 248, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) and arranged by Paul Burnell in 2020 for instruments in four parts.

Download file comprises score and all parts.

Duration 2:30

Score in C

I Seid froh, dieweil (No. 35) II Wie soll ich dich empfangen (No. 5) III Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren (No. 33)

Each chorale has been transposed up a perfect fourth from the key of the original.

The arrangement is suitable for multiple quartet combinations with parts available (and potential instrumentations suggested) as follows:

Part 1: C, Eb (flute, oboe, alto recorder, Eb clarinet, violin 1) Part 2: C, Bb (oboe, tenor recorder, Bb clarinet, violin 2) Part 3: C - alto & bass clefs, Bb, Eb, F (Bb clarinet, bass recorder, alto saxophone, horn in F, viola) Part 4: C - bass clef, Bb, F (bassoon, great bass recorder, tenor saxophone, horn in F, 'cello)

Part 4 may be played an octave lower than written.

Any other appropriate instruments, even if not suggested above, may play. Although the score is presented with a layout appropriate for string quartet this does not indicate a preferred instrumentation. Performers may wish to precede each pause with a rallentando.

Programme note: The Christmas Oratorio (German: Weihnachts-Oratorium) is an oratorio composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for performance in church during the Christmas season of 1734. Fourteen chorales - arrangements of hymn tunes - are included in the Oratorio, and this arrangement comprises three of them: Seid froh, dieweil; Wie soll ich dich empfangen, and Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren.