Скачать или смотреть Torelli: Christmas Concerto

0:00 I. Grave
0:27 II. Vivace
2:37 III. Largo
5:08 IV. Vivace

Apparently the Christmas Concerto has its roots in an Italian folk custom. During the nine days before Christmas, reenactments of parts of the Christmas story were common, and instruments were used in the adoration of the shepherds. This music turns into the "pastorale" which is often in 12/8, kind of a "rocking" music with a drone in the bass representing the folk bagpipes or "zampognari." This kind of music occurs all over the Baroque era from Bach's opening to the second cantata in the Christmas Oratorio, the Pifa in "Messiah" and any number of Italian concerti. This piece by Torelli, however, has faster versions of this type of piece, still very shepherd-like but not at all good for a lullaby!