For an artist with an extensive discography who specializes in music of the Renaissance and Baroque, it's perhaps surprising that this is
Jean Tubéry's first recording of
J.S. Bach. One thing that may have drawn
Tubéry to these works is the fact that he began his career as a cornetto player, and these are among the few
Bach cantatas that include cornetti and trombones, instruments associated at the time with Christmas festivities. These works also prominently feature the distinctive sound of the oboe d'amore. The three cantatas written for the Christmas season are not among the composer's most familiar works, but they are very attractive and should be of interest to listeners who love
Bach and Baroque choral and vocal music, as well as anyone looking for Christmas music beyond traditional fare. Written in the first few years of
Bach's tenure at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, these cantatas consist of choruses, arias, and recitatives on the themes of the Nativity and of the pious individual's response to it.
Tubéry leads the instrumental ensemble
Les Agrémens and Choeur de Chambre de Namur in disciplined but lively performances of the pieces. He brings a springy energy to music, particularly in the contrapuntal sections. The soloists, drawn from the chamber choir, have light, pleasant, agile voices well suited to this repertoire. Ricercar's sound is clean and atmospheric, with good balance.