Clematis – O Jesulein… A German Baroque Christmas Oratorio (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/176,4kHz]

This innovative programme presents an imaginary Christmas oratorio made up of works by German composers of the 17th century. Many of these works are unpublished and come from the splendid Düben collection in the library of the University of Uppsala; they are arranged here in a sequence that introduces the scenes and the principal characters of the Nativity: Mary, Joseph, the Archangel Gabriel, the angels, the shepherds, the Magi and Simeon. These works belong to the genre of the historia sacra and depict the dialogue of the Annunciation between the archangel Gabriel and Mary, the arrival of the Magi — guided by angels — at the manger, and the scene where Mary and Joseph look for Jesus in the Temple. These narrative scenes stand in contrast to the large ensembles that represent the angelic host, the shepherds, and the adoring multitudes before the manger. The instruments also play an important role in this celebration with their contrasting timbres. This recording features works by Andreas Hammerschmidt, Wolfgang Carl Briegel, Christian Flor, Christoph Bernhard, Heinrich Schütz, Franz Tunder, David Pohle, and Thomas Selle.

Tracklist:
1. Clematis – Briegel: Dies ist der Tag des Fröhligkeit (04:34)
2. Clematis – Hammerschmidt: Maria gegrüsset seist du (05:38)
3. Clematis – Schelle: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (02:35)
4. Clematis – Bernhard: Fürchtet euch nicht (04:00)
5. Clematis – Hammerschmidt: Freude, grosse Freude (01:12)
6. Clematis – Praetorius: Es ist ein Ros entsprugen (02:06)
7. Clematis – Flor: Pastores currite in Bethlehem (04:11)
8. Clematis – Hammerschmidt: Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein (01:46)
9. Clematis – Tunder: Ein kleines Kindelein (02:33)
10. Clematis – Praetorius: Puer natus in Bethlehem (02:24)
11. Clematis – Schütz: O bone Jesu, fili Mariae, SWV 471 (06:05)
12. Clematis – Selle: Angelus ad Josephum (06:39)
13. Clematis – Buxtehude: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BuxWV 223: I. Versus 1. Allegretto con moto (01:01)
14. Clematis – Hammerschmidt: Wie bin ich doch so hertzlich froh (02:54)
15. Clematis – Hammerschmidt: Wo ist der neugeborne König (04:56)
16. Clematis – Ahle: Herr, nun lässest du deiner Diener (04:58)
17. Clematis – Capricornus: Sonata ab 8 Instrument: I. […] (01:25)
18. Clematis – Hammerschmidt: Mein Sohn, warum hast du uns getan? (04:15)
19. Clematis – Pohle: Nascitur Immanuel (08:20)
20. Clematis – Bach: O Freudenzeit, o Wundernacht (02:51)