The "Christmas History" was written by Johann Rosenmüller in Leipzig in the middle of the 17th century. Rosenmüller brought the musical avant-garde of his time from an extensive trip to Italy in the winter of 1645/46 to Central Germany, which was also culturally bled out by the Thirty Years' War. Under his direction, music was heard from the galleries of the Leipzig churches which could not be heard anywhere else in Germany: vocal concerts with a large ensemble made the nave vibrate, colourfully composed instrumental ensembles structured the works with interludes and ritornelles. The programme is rounded off by the "Christmas History" by Heinrich Schütz.