Year of release 2008

Songs 28

Album time 01:03:02

Genre list Classical

Jewels From A German Christmas by Christian Kabitz presents a classical holiday program from 2008, shaped by organ-led traditions and familiar German seasonal melodies. The album runs for 28 tracks and a total time of 01:03:02, giving it the feel of a full Christmas recital rather than a brief sampler. It moves through chorales, improvisations, and concert pieces that keep the focus on winter church music and end-of-year listening.

The opening sequence sets the scene with The Bells Of St. James S Church, Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber and Christmas March, before moving into Macht Hoch Die Tur and Mit Ernst O Menschenkinder. From there, the track list brings in Improvisation On Ihr Kinderlein Kommet, Ubers Gebirg Maria Geht, Und Unser Lieben Frauen, and Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging. These titles place the album firmly in the German Christmas repertory, with plenty of recognizable carol material woven into Kabitz's performance.

A notable part of the program is the group of Christmas Chorale Preludes, numbered one through four. They include Improvisation On Macht Hoch Die Tur, Improvisation On Der Heiland Ist Geboren, Improvisation On Weisst Du, Wieviel Sternlein, and Improvisation On Nun Freut Euch Ihr Christen. This section gives the album a structured classical flow, while keeping each movement tied to a specific hymn tune and allowing the seasonal material to unfold in distinct, compact forms.

Later tracks broaden the atmosphere with Freut Euch Ihr Lieben Christen, Psallite, Vom Himmel Hoch, and Improvisation On Vom Himmel Hoch. The sequence continues through Ich Steh An Deiner Krippen, O Jesulein Zart, Freuet Euch Ihr Christen Alle, and the three Christmas Concerti, built on Improvisation On Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen, Improvisation On Es Kommt Ein Schiff, and Improvisation On Nun Singet Und Seid Froh. These pieces make the album suitable for quiet holiday listening and reflective winter evenings.

Toward the end, the program returns to well-known carol language with Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen, Joseph, Lieber Joseph Mein, Improvisation On Silent Night, Preis Sei Gott, and O Du Frohliche, before closing with Bell-Ringing At St. James S Church, Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber. That final sound links the music back to its setting and gives the album a seasonal frame. As a whole, Jewels From A German Christmas offers a detailed, classical journey through German Christmas titles and organ traditions.