Cantata for the Feast of Reformation

Complete score
Oboe 1
Continuo

As a lutheran christian, Bach composed some very great cantatas for the feast of Reformation. One of these is “Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild” which he performed for the first time on 31st of october 1725. The scores have the 2nd movement, an aria for alto, oboe obligato and basso continuo (Bach changed the instrumentation in a later performance in 1730 to flauto traverso).

The anonymous lyricist wrote some references to the psalm 84,12 which the first choir of the cantata is based upon:

Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild. Der Herr gibt Gnade und Ehre, er wird kein Gutes mangeln lassen den Frommen.

The score is based on Bachs autograph of the first performance.

Epistle: 2 Thessalonians 2, 3-8
Gospel: Revelation 14, 6-8

Bach cantatas website
Cantata text
Facsimile bach-digital.de
Facsimile (parts) bach-digital.de