The voice calls us

It’s time to bring out the heavy hitters—in this case, perhaps the heaviest hitter of all time, J.S. Bach. The man wrote cantatas, oratorios and all kinds of stuff on a weekly basis, year after year for decades. Of course there’s something suitable for Christmas from him.

I’m choosing “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”, from Cantata 140 (out of more than 200 of them; think about that). It’s not strictly Christmas, but it’s suitable, because it’s about us being watchful, awake for the arrival of the long-awaited salvation. “Wachet auf” opens the cantata, proclaiming “Awake, we are called by the voice”. This is one of the busiest pieces I’m going to give you this season, but Bach did love his complexity, so just enjoy.

(This recording is of the entire Cantata. You’re welcome to put up your feet and stay through the whole thing.)