At the center of this program stands Johann Sebastian Bach’s fifth cantata of his Christmas Oratorio “Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen“ (Let honor be sung to you, O God). This cantata is about the journey of the wise men and the symbolism of light winning over darkness. An important composer in Bach’s circle was his mentor Dietrich Buxtehude, the renowned North German organist and cantor. His New Year’s, and Johann Schelle’s Advent cantatas, Johann Rosenmüller’s Magnificat, and Philipp Erlebach’s Christmas cantata are followed by a work of the later Jeremias du Grain, a student of Bach’s close friend Georg Philipp Telemann. Several of these festive cantatas are scored for orchestra with trumpets, which symbolized royalty and Christ’s status as the “King of Kings.” In contrast to this stand intimate unaccompanied choral works by the award-winning contemporary female North American composers Emily Drum, MaryAnne Muglia, and Christine Donkin.

Gene Stenger will be tenor soloist for Crescendo Music’s holiday program, Bach-Circle: Christmas Oratorios and Contemporary Female Voices, directed by Christine Gevert.