Bach's Christmas cantata "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes" is resplendent with the joy of the season with its festive horns throughout. But in the tenor aria, Bach offers a more delicate excitement from the horns. In dialogue with the oboes, the horns offer the child-like wonder and excitement of the "Christenkinder" (Christ's children). A middle section contrasts starkly with a scary "frighten" (erschrecken).

We also explore the marvelous closing chorale harmonization with its "joy upon joy" and "bliss upon bliss."

BWV 40 aria "Christenkinder": Netherlands Bach Society