Every holiday, this year starting this past Monday 22, WKCR 89.9 NY from Columbia University presents its annual Bach Festival, which first presents all of Bach works in various ways and programs, and offers scholars, artists and fellow listeners to chime in and request their own favorites. Bach Fest is a time to let the world, no matter how wet or snowy or sunny or grim it can seem, hear again some of the greatest music ever written. Music is the way cultures have passed on stories throughout time. Bach's stories, built from within the pillars of churches in places like Leipzig and Cöthen, are now told with happiness and joy. His times were harder, he himself having fathered 20 children, 7 of which did not reach adulthood. What came out of his pen onto the musical staff, however, is proven over and over to be as miraculous as he felt his prayers' powers were at reaching God.
I'm streaming WKCR now, playing is the crackling of records under album 3 of 6 from a recording of The Christmas Oratorio or Weihnachtsoratorium, which Bach was rockin' with in Leipzig in 1734. It was originally performed in 6 parts over the Christmas season, 3 consecutive nights beginning Christmas and 3 more holy days in the first days of the year culminating with the feast of the Epiphany on January. Fabulous.
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