Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, TVWV 1:58 (Score)

In his Christmas cantata Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (To God, on high alone be praise), Telemann celebrates the birth of Jesus as a symbol of the reconciliation with God and as a message of salvation for a sinful humanity. The cantata makes provision for a competent baritone soloist who sings two challenging arias, as well as a four-part choir which provides the framework for the composition with two unadorned chorale verses and, as a climax, intones the Christmas paean from Luke 2:14 “Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe” (Praise to God in his high heaven). In the first aria, the muted sounds of the optional high trumpet accompany the words “O Freudengetöne, wie lieblich, wie schöne” (O music of blessing! How lovely, how pleasing), evoking a gentle Christmas luster.