Johann Schelle Four choral movements for Christmas. Also insert movements for the Magnificat. First edition

In the period around 1700, numerous settings of the Magnificat were performed in the main Leipzig churches. Works by composers such as J. Kuhnau and G. P. Telemann survive; however, the best-known examples are undoubtedly the Magnificat BWV 243 and 243a by J. S. Bach, the ‘extra’ movements for the latter which exist in Bach’s own hand. Following a long-established Leipzig tradition, the vocal settings of "Vom Himmel hoch", "Freut euch und jubiliert", "Gloria in excelsis" and "Virga Jesse floruit" (known as the Kindl-Wiegen) could be inserted between the verses of the Magnificat at Christmas. Some of these are scored for festive forces. These extra movements in C major published here for the first time, and attributed to Johann Schelle, can be performed either together with a Magnificat setting in a suitable key (e.g. by Kuhnau, Telemann) or independently.