Composed for the Sunday after Christmas in 1724, Bach's Cantata No. 122 "Das neugeborne Kindelein" (The New-born Infant ) (BWV 122) sets a text by Cyriakus Schneegass from 1597 for its first, fourth, and sixth movements and a text by an unknown poet for its second, third, and fifth movements. Although the neugebor'ne Kindelein of the title is the Christ child born to redeem sinful humanity, Bach's music dwells on the sinful almost to the exclusion of the celebratory. The cantata is scored for bass, soprano, alto and tenor soloists, chorus, a trio of recorders, a pair of oboes, taille, strings, and basso continuo. In keeping with its sinful fixation, "Das neugeborne Kindelein" is in dour G minor with its first, third, fifth, and sixth movements in the tonic; its second movement in the minor subdominant; and its fourth in the minor dominant D minor. The first movement is a triple-time chorale setting with the sopranos intoning the hymn tune while the lower voices sing elaborate lines beneath them and the oboes double the upper strings in an independent orchestral part. The second movement is an austere aria for bass soloist and continuo. The third is a recitative for impassioned soprano soloist accompanied by a heavenly choir of three recorders and continuo. The fourth is a beautiful Terzett aria in 6/8 time for the soprano, alto, and tenor soloists, with the upper strings in unison over a dotted rhythm in the continuo. The fifth is a recitative for soloist accompanied by piano strings and continuo. "Das neugeborne Kindelein" concludes with a straightforward chorale harmonization for chorus and full orchestra colla parte.

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