Cantata Information
Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248.2
Created 26 December 1734 - Christmas Oratorio Part II, Leipzig period. Occasion: Second day of Christmas.
BWV2 (1990 catalogue): BWV 248.2.
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Second day of Christmas
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The following websites have more in-depth information on this cantata like notes, the libretto with translations, discography and so on. Click on the icon for information about the site.
From the Bach Archiv Leipzig, this website offers scientifically sound information on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as on the transmission of sources for this body of works up to around 1850, in accordance with the most up-to-date research.
A vast, long-running online resource created and curated by Aryeh Oron. It offers an unparalleled collection of information on J.S. Bach’s cantatas and other vocal works — including texts, translations, discographies, performer biographies, and historical notes — making it one of the most comprehensive Bach reference sites on the internet.
This Swiss foundation has set itself the unique task of performing the entire vocal works of Bach within a period of around 25 years. With great musical passion and historical performance practice, the choir and orchestra, conducted by Rudolf Lutz, interpret Bach's works to the highest standard. In their Bachipedia section you can find notes on all cantatas they have performed. In German, English and Spanish.
Of course the world's biggest encyclopedia has very deep information on all things Bach.
The oldest ensemble for Baroque music in the Netherlands. Founded in 1921 in Naarden to perform Bach's St Matthew Passion on Good Friday, and has performed the work annually since then. In honour of the 100th birthday in 2021, the Society started publishing a new and freely accessible recording every two weeks, including HD video of all works of JS Bach on YouTube, under the title All of Bach. Content in English and Dutch.
This Dutch Bach scholar created a website with information on all cantatas and other vocal works, with the librettos translated into Dutch, links to videos, other websites and much more. Since Eduard's death in 2024 I'm assisting his widow Ria to maintain the site, because such a wonderful resource must be preserved. In Dutch.
A very complete site containing the lyrics to most cantatas and an English translation, curated by two musical scholars and absolute Bach authorities, Michael Marissen and Daniel R. Melamed.
A collective group of singers and instrumentalists founded in 1970 by Craig Smith. It was created specifically to perform the complete cycle of over 200 sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach in the liturgical setting for which they were intended, an endeavor twice completed and a tradition which continues today. Has both notes on cantatas and translated librettos.
Emmanuel Music Boston has English translations for many cantatas.
The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a digital library of public-domain music scores, available either as a subscription-based service or free without registering.
A Swiss website with French translations of the Bach cantatas.
Discogs (short for "discographies") is an online database and marketplace for audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Its user-generated database aims to catalogue every physical music release ever made. As of 2025, it contains over 18 million entries.
Videos with this cantata
All of Bach
Published 4 January 2023BWV 248/2 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society conducted by Shunske Sato Muziekcentrum van de Omroep, Hilversum
Bach-Stiftung
Published 9 April 2019J.S. Bach - Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 II "Und es waren Hirten" (J.S. Bach Foundation)
Helmut Rilling
Published 28 July 2013Helmuth Rilling Bach Weihnachtsoratorium
Helmut Rilling workshop
Published 9 April 2019Workshop zur Kantate BWV 248 II "Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend" (J.S. Bach-Stiftung)
John Eliot Gardiner
Published 1 December 2016Bach: Christmas Oratorio BWV 248, part 1/2
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Published 30 October 2023Bach Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248 Christmas Oratorio Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Philip Pickett
Published 27 December 2012J. S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248), part two
René Jacobs
Published 19 December 2014Bach - Weihnachtsoratorium | Part 1 | ZaterdagMatinee
Ton Koopman
Published 4 November 2020J.S. Bach - Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 - Ton Koopman, ABO Parte 2