bˈɑːx hæd kəmpˈoʊzd hɪz kɹˈɪsməs ˌɔːɹətˈoːɹɪˌoʊ, bˈeɪst ɔnðə ɡˈɑːspəlz ʌv lˈuːk ænd mˈæθjuː, ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈoːɹ, ɐ wˈɜːk ɪn sˈɪks pˈɑːɹts təbi pɚfˈɔːɹmd ˌɔn sˈɪks əkˈeɪʒənz dˈʊɹɹɪŋ kɹˈɪsməs tˈaɪd.
Bach had composed his Christmas Oratorio, based on the gospels of Luke and Matthew, in 1734, a work in six parts to be performed on six occasions during Christmas tide.