The first movement of Bach's Christmas Day Cantata, Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63, was the music featured in Christmas Mystery 2014.
Christmas 2014 marks the 300th anniversary of the first performance of BWV 63, which took place in Weimar.
A beautiful rendition of BWV (Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis [Bach Works Catalogue]) 63 is linked here, and is sung by the Thomanerchor (St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig), a boys choir. Bach served as director of the choir from 1723 to 1750. The orchestration is quite stunning.
Another forceful performance of BWV 63 can be heard in this 1972 recording done in Munich under the direction of Karl Richter. Again the orchestration is striking, especially the (brief) use of the organ in the last movement.
For a majestic and bit slower interpretation, this recent recording by the Collegium Vocale of Ghent Belgium is a nearly flawless performance.
Finally, this hour long video features Sir John Eliot Gardiner rehearsing BWV 63 in London, and providing commentary.
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