“Our Christmas concert this year is ‘Christmas in Leipzig’ and I chose three cantatas that are from the Advent and Christmas seasons,” says Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

Bach Choir of Bethlehem presents “Christmas in Leipzig,” 4 p.m. Dec. 13, Egner Memorial Chapel, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, and 4 p.m. Dec. 14, First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem.

The Allentown concert is believed to be the first time that the Bach Choir of Bethlehem has performed in Egner Memorial Chapel.

“I want the audience to experience what Christmas was like in Leipzig during Bach’s time,” says Jackson.

“In Leipzig, the season of Advent was called “tempus clausum” (“closed time”) just like Lent. It was a time in the Christian liturgical year in Leipzig where you weren’t allowed to do elaborate music, so Bach actually has relatively few Advent cantatas. The one exception is that he could do something on the first Sunday of Advent and he very often did.”

The “Christmas in Leipzig” Bach Choir concert opens with “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” (“Savior of the Nations, Come!”), BWV 62, composed for the first Sunday in Advent, which Bach wrote while in Leipzig based on Martin Luther’s Advent hymn of the same title.

The Bach Choir next performs Advent Cantata BWV 147, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben” (“Heart and soul, life and deeds”), which Bach composed in 1723 while working in Weimar, which had no “tempus clausum” restrictions. The work includes the popular “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

After intermission, the Bach Choir sings “Unser Mund sei voll Lachens” (“May our mouth be full of laughter”), BWV 110, composed in 1725 to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

In addition to the traditional carol sing-along, Dr. Larry Lipkis, Moravian University Professor of Music and Composer-in-Residence, created a new carol based on Gilbert Keith Chesterton’s poem, “A Christmas Carol,” published in 1900.

Concert soloists are soprano Nola Richardson, mezzo-soprano Janna Critz, tenor Dann Coakwell and bass-baritone Dashon Burton.

For Jackson, the Egner concert returns him to a familiar sanctuary.

Jackson was Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Muhlenberg College for five years. In May 2022, he was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Bach Choir when Greg Funfgeld retired.

Says Jackson, “We hope that our Christmas concerts become our audience’s annual tradition and that they leave feeling warm-hearted and ready to usher in the Christmas season.”

“Christmas in Leipzig,” The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, 4 p.m. Dec. 13, Egner Memorial Chapel, Muhlenberg College, 2400 W. Chew St., Allentown; 4 p.m. Dec. 14, First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem; Ticket information: Bach Choir office, 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem; office@bach.org; 610-866-4382 ext. 110 or 115; https://bach.org/tickets/

“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, this concert combines music and compassion to inspire hope and call the community into action,” says Lehigh Valley Chorale Artistic Director Nicholas Sienkiewicz.

Lehigh Valley Chorale presents “A Crowded Table,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12; 2 p.m. Dec. 13, First Presbyterian Church, Allentown.

The Lehigh Valley Chorale concert opens with “Tread Softly” by composer Jeffrey Van followed by Dan Forrest’s arrangement of “Joy to the World.” conducted by Interim Assistant Conductor Liz Olson.

Next is “The Word Was God,” a creative vocal interpretation of the world’s creation by composer Rosephayne Powell.

Explains Powell, “A picture of the earth is being created through voices. The beginning of the song is very empty because the world was empty before God spoke it into existence.

“The song gets busier with more energy because more is happening in creation. And on day seven when all the voices come together, the song ends because that’s the day He rested,” Powell says.

Additional selections include “Betelehemu,” arranged by Barrington Brooks; “Your Hand and Mine,” by Marques L.A. Garrett; “O Vos Omnes,” by Linda Kachelmeier; “I Have Never Loved Someone,” arranged by Nate Thatcher; “Winter Song,” by composers Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson; Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria”; “Hine Ma Tov,” by Neil Ginsberg; “Don’t Save it All for Christmas Day,” by Paul Langford, and Andrea Ramsey’s arrangement of “A Crowded Table,” an anthem for unity, inclusion and belonging.

The concert closes with “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Says Sienkiewicz, “We are partnering with New Bethany Ministries of Bethlehem for a food drive. We ask audience members to bring food and goods as outlined on our website. Contributions benefit the Ministries’ food pantry.”

The Lehigh Valley Chorale is a non-auditioned community choir of nearly 175 members which performs an eclectic repertoire of music in many languages and genres, from classical to Broadway show tunes.

“A Crowded Table,” Lehigh Valley Chorale, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12; 2 p.m. Dec. 13, First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman St., Allentown; Tickets: https://www.lvchorale.org/

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com