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.
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.