Johann Kuhnau (1670-1722), Bach's eternal 'predecessor' as Leipzig's Thomaskantor, has only been rediscovered in recent years and his true greatness has not yet been truly recognised.

He was highly respected by his contemporaries, however, and not just as a musician: he had a doctorate, worked as a lawyer, wrote satirical novels - a polymath... His musical oeuvre must have been extensive, much of it is lost.

It is therefore all the more pleasing that his magnificent Christmas cantata "Frohlocket, ihr Völker, und jauchzet, ihr Heiden" [Rejoice, ye nations, and shout for joy, ye heathen] has been preserved. It opens the programme on this CD and, with its instrumentation and duration of over 25 minutes, surpasses many a great cantata by his famous successor.

The quality of his work is also evident in his second cantata "Uns ist ein Kind geboren" [A child has been born to us]: it was long regarded as a work by Johann Sebastian Bach!

Peter Gortner with the Chamber Choir of the Christuskirche Karlsruhe and the orchestra L'arpa festante complements these two Kuhnau cantatas with well-known movements by Michael Praetorius and Johannes Eccard to create a festive Christmas CD.