DOWNLOAD

BACH – Sinfonia (from the ‘Christmas Oratorio’, Part 2), BWV 248 – 8 CELLOS

Other Identification:
The Christmas Oratorio (German: Weihnachtsoratorium), BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It is in six large parts, each part a cantata intended for performance in a church service on a feast day of the Christmas period. It was prepared for the Christmas season of 1734, but incorporates music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a largely lost church cantata, BWV 248a. These dates are confirmed in Bach’s autograph manuscripts.

Incredibly, the following complete public performance did not take place until 17th December 1857, by the ‘Sing-Akademie zu Berlin’ under Eduard Grell. Most of this music was ‘secular’, in that it is written in praise of royalty or notable local figures, outside the tradition of specific performance within the church.

Movements or sections:
The Christmas Oratorio is particularly sophisticated music. Parts I and III are similarly scored for exuberant trumpets, while the Pastoral Part II (referring to the Shepherds) is, by contrast, scored featuring woodwind instruments (2 flutes, 2 oboes d’amore, and 2 oboes da caccia), and does not include an opening chorus, but a Sinfonia. The Sinfonia to this second part has been transcribed for cello octet by David Johnstone, transposing it to a more suitable cello register and including occasional other small changes.

Instrumentation: OCTET OF EIGHT CELLOS
Arranged by David Johnstone

This music is in 3 PDFs:
[1 – General Score
[2 – Cellos 1 to 4
[3 – Cellos 5 to 8

Approximate difficulty: MEDIUM
It is not unduly difficult for medium to advanced cellists, though four of the eight voices have substantial thumb position passages. The cellists should be seated as a ‘double’ cello quartet in the manner each ensemble should think best!

Go back to this section and continue searching for more music

Go to COLLECTION POINT to receive all selected items

Poster of Johnstone-Music

Who plays Johnstone-Music?

Johnstone Music has been performed by orchestras and conservatories worldwide, earning international recognition in cello repertoire.

Free sheet music

Instantly download a wide variety of scores – from cello solos and chamber works to orchestral parts and educational material

How do free downloads work?

Please enjoy looking around the very large selection of music offered, and the information given for each piece or work. When you find music you want, simply click “Yes, I wish to download this music”.

You can then either continue searching or go to the Collection Point to receive the music. You can order up to ten PDFs in each session (once per day).

The very first time you receive music, you will need to register on this site with the briefest details, of course at no cost at all. Then, on subsequent visits, you simply ‘log in’.

It is hoped to launch a special viewer subscription for unlimited access in the near future.

Practising good intentions

This site includes a wealth of historical and modern documents, photos, and music — some obviously of unknown or untraceable origin. Johnstone-Music makes no intent of financial gain from sharing the material; any royalties happily belonging to the original owners.

We believe that virtually anyone would appreciate the educational and academic value of sharing, and we’re happy to credit (and thank) any name. However, please be assured that if any copyright holder were to firmly object to the inclusion of something in their domain we would promptly remove said item upon request.

Personal

David Johnstone lives near Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) with his wife Rosa and their two “Spanglish” children, close to the Atlantic Pyrenees. The nearest international airport is Bilbao.

He is interested in world affairs, politics, animal rights, and most sports (including being a lifelong suffering Reading FC fan!). Also passionate about Celtic culture and genealogy, he has traced his ‘English’ family back to 1280, although Scotland and Ireland have also shaped his background. And yes — he is half-ashamed to admit it, he loves silly jokes!

Social Work

David Johnstone supports animal rights, he is against any form of abuse towards them, and says a loud “NO” to bullfighting, foxhunting and any other animal cruelty.

TORTURE IS NOT CULTURE !