John Ramseyer, tenor, and Julian Bennett Holmes, organ, present a unique performance of Heinrich Schütz’s “Historia der Geburt Jesu Christi” (1660). As permitted by the composer’s preface to the 1664 edition, the Evangelist’s recitatives will be performed as written, while the nine intermedia will be replaced by organ improvisations on the relevant subjects.

PROGRAM
0:00 Introduction
7:16 Evangelist
10:44 Improvisation I: The Angel to the Shepherds in the Field
12:12 Evangelist
12:35 Improvisation II: The Voice of the Angel
14:49 Evangelist
15:11 Improvisation III: The Shepherds in the Field
17:50 Evangelist
21:16 Improvisation IV: The Wise Men of the East
23:38 Evangelist
24:29 Improvisation V: High Priests
26:52 Evangelist
27:32 Improvisation VI: Herod the King
30:29 Evangelist
33:09 Improvisation VII: The Angel to Joseph
36:06 Evangelist
39:58 Improvisation VIII: The Angel to Joseph
41:58 Evangelist
44:21 Conclusion

From St. Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University. Presented by Sacred Music at Columbia, from the Earl Hall Center for Religious Life at Columbia University. While we cannot have in-person audiences at this time, we are delighted to present this streaming concert, with socially-distanced musicians.