The biggest child

The largest child (original title: The largest child in an oratorio auff weynacht ) is an oratorio for Christmas by the German composer Johann Mattheson . It was premiered in Hamburg in 1720.

History and musical form

In terms of content, the largest child belongs to the category of Christmas oratorios . It depicts the story of the birth of Christ without, however - like Bach's well-known work - depicting a scenic plot.

The text of the work is based on a dialogue about the birth of Christ , which is believed to have been performed in 1707 with music by Reinhard Keiser . The poet of the libretto is unknown.

Mattheson himself had performed his first Christmas Oratorio in 1715, which was still a traditional setting of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke.

The first performance took place in 1720 with soloists from the Gänsemarktoper .

occupation

The work is set up for a chamber orchestra (strings, wind instruments, timpani) and vocal parts (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), with the vocal parts appearing both as a soloist and as a choir. The soloists embody the acting persons (Mary, Joseph, shepherds, "human children") but also allegorical figures (the bride of Christ, devotion, reflection). As a rule, two soloists are to be provided for each pitch.

The most famous performers at the premiere were Margaretha Susanna Kayser and Johann Gottfried Riemschneider .

sentences

Used hymns

Mattheson used some well-known Christmas and church hymns. The work contains the first, second and fourth stanzas of the song In dulci jubilo . At the end of the first part and at the beginning of the second part there are the second and third stanzas of Praise God you Christians all too by Nikolaus Herman . The opening and closing chorale form the first and last stanzas of Martin Luther's chorale, Praise be to you, Jesus Christ . Mattheson replaced the Kyrieleis with an alleluia and adapted a choral movement from his oratorio Chera from 1716.

Single sentences

1st chapter

1. Blessed be Jesus Christ , chant: First stanza of the chant by Martin Luther
2. Welcome a thousand supper , duet with choir: Duet for Maria and Joseph (soprano, bass)
3. So through me is the salvation of the world , recitative: Maria and Joseph (soprano, bass)
4. Israel! rejoice , aria with choir: Maria's first aria (soprano)
5. Let darkened nature freeze , recitative: Maria and Joseph (soprano, bass)
6. Bright shine from the father's light , aria: Aria of Joseph (bass)
7. The eternal light comes in , chant
8. Who can consider this right? , Duet: Duet of the Human Children (soprano, alto)
9. He comes from his father's womb , chorale: Second stanza of Praise God you Christians all at once

Part 2

10. He expresses all his violence , chant: Third stanza of Praise God you Christians alike
11. O dearest child , recitative: Recitative of the allegorical figure Thinking (bass)
12th way, you precious earth , aria: Aria of the allegorical figure Reflection (bass)
13. Is dis the place of recitative: The scene with Mary, Joseph, shepherds and shepherds is the only one in the complete work in which a scenic distribution of roles can be recognized to some extent.
14. Our full breasts are still beating , Trio: Trio for two shepherdesses and one shepherd (soprano, alto, tenor)
15. Yes, what's more , recitative: Shepherd recitative (tenor)
16. In dulci jubilo , chorale: First stanza of the hymn In dulci jubilo
17. Great God , aria with choir: Aria of the allegorical figure The Devotion (tenor)
18. God has taken my flesh , Accompagnato: Accompagnato of the allegorical figure The Bride of Christ (soprano)
19. O Jesu parvule , chant: Second stanza of the hymn In dulci jubilo
20. And if death will break my eyes , Accompagnato: Accompagnato of the allegorical figure The Bride of Christ (soprano)

swell

Steffen Voss , booklet for CD recording with the Cologne Academy, CPO 2009;
New edition, ed. by Steffen Voss, Edition Musiklandschaften Hamburg, Hamburg 2009