Christmas 2005

2005 was the year that BBC Radio 3 held their marathon "A Bach Christmas", when they played all of his works continuously over an extended period ( yes, I've forgotten exactly how long. Was it three weeks ? ) To coincide with that, the December issue of BBC Music magazine that year had a similarly titled disk as the cover cd. It is a recital of organ and choral music played by organist David Goode on the organ of School Hall in Eton College and the Rodolfus Choir conducted by Ralph Allwood. The recital kicks off with the familiar Wachet Auf and Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring before going into the main item of Advent, Christmas and New Year chorale preludes from the Orgelbuchlein. This has organ preludes followed by briefly sung choral texts in seventeen pairs. There is an austere but at the same time warm feel to both the playing and singing on show here. Apart from the first two items, the occasional other obviously seasonal theme appears such as In Dulce Jubilo, so a Christmas feel is definitely there. The disk concludes with Goode playing a Prelude and Fugue in C major BWV547 and a final choral work with cello continuo, Lobet den Herrn alle Heiden.