We begin the Christmas season with this live recording made in Leipzig's St. Thomas Church in 1955, with the famous boy's choir of that church directed by Günther Ramin.
This was to be the last Christmas concert led by Ramin, who died in 1956. Successor to Bach as cantor of the church and leader of a choir that was formed in the 13th century, Ramin was a central figure in the musical life of the city during the Nazi and then Communist regimes. And as the notes to this recording say, for Leipzig residents, this particular concert was "the epitome of Christmas, especially in the serious war and postwar years."
Similar to the King's College Choir featured here last Christmas, the St. Thomas choir is the product of a choir school, with 80 boys aged 10-19.
I believe the recording on this Cantate issue from circa 1960 is derived from a radio broadcast, as are the Bach cantata recordings that have been issued more recently from Ramin and his choir. Here is a link to an excellent article on Ramin, the choir and those radio broadcasts.
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