Vom Himmel hoch (From Heaven on High)

A young Felix Mendelssohn wrote this Christmas cantata based on Martin Luther’s “Vom Himmel hoch.” Mendelssohn’s inspiration sprang not from Luther directly, but from his own respect for J. S. Bach, who had also borrowed Luther’s hymn frequently. This performance, by The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra with the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble, culminates with the final, triumphant stanza of Luther’s hymn.