god king written composer years old unusually early bach date performance known inauguration new town council february text compiled mainly biblical sources different sections verses addition stanza hymn sung simultaneously corresponding biblical text free poetry unknown poet bach time relates political occasion seven movements scored baroque instrumental ensemble including separate instrumental set vocal consort singers optional organ shares features bach early bach church led performance february town main church planned performed twice printed year works printed extant print printed bach lifetime history words bach principal churches dedicated composed earliest surviving early example written previous residence performance composed church service held annually celebrate inauguration new town council unknown speculated text written minister earlier prompted composition bach der thought bach assembled text suggestion unlikely bach musical setting final text departs form evidence way indicate authorship text early pre character featuring combination found later service held february town largest church score indicates bach deployed musicians different locations building composed occasion following year lost theme text centres additional material drawn samuel genesis unusual bach early contemporary unknown poet added free text makes reference new regiment office king germany joseph imperial free city subject immediately emperor quotations verse der god sovereign ancient days salvation brings earth found version god king old working salvation midst earth verses tag und und day night seen sun planets certain courses set borders land day night thou prepared light sun thou set borders earth verse die soul enemy deliver soul turtle dove unto wild beast suggested themes include number distinct allusions relevance inhabitants reference general inclusion verse making oblique reference accessible contemporary audiences fire destroyed parts city importance borders allusion threat city independence posed military campaigns movement combines texts biblical verses stanza hymn reference old age older view suggested likely reference member city council connected bach recent research lead thinking likely refers mayor left office aged years details public private life match extremely texts chosen likely recognized structure scoring bach structured seven movements scored vocal parts soprano alto tenor bass choral writing parts work sung singers called approach performances deploy singers choral sections use larger choir partly question balance relatively large instrumental forces supporting evidence use singers score marking implies bach envisaged option vocal ensemble separate bach orchestra including instruments divided separated placing work tradition associated composers instruments required baroque instrumental ensemble organ violins viola viola following table movements scoring follows bach keys time signatures taken symbol common time playing shown music short movements flow shows typical characteristics traditional 17th century unlike early instrumental introduction conducted performed church bach notes work laid grand scale terms deployment separate instrumental set vocal consort singers optional organ model theatrical performed bach presence opening chorus god king long ago based begins chord major instruments line repeated sections summary end accompanied trumpet fanfare aria tenor eighty years old shall servant burden complimented hymn sung simultaneously soprano earth carry life farther texts deal old age section begins image descending line tenor melody expresses sadness condition old age tune sung usual hymn possibly chosen match theme choral movement und mit das old age like youth god sets biblical passages assuring god people old young set bass sets verses tag und day night form outer sections dealing day night middle section describes light sun joyful motif word painting voice alto aria powerful strength maintain borders based contemporary poetry set major instruments sections triple time marked corresponds god power glory second common time prayer peace earth verse set chorus die soul enemy voices set cello motion notes personal setting movement extraordinary subtlety notes upward feature express sound instruments grouped achieve subtle colour cello strings chorus das regiment new regime expresses wishes peace new council importance significant early work bach differs extant bach time elaborate instrumentation positively received bach works printed paid city council printed lifetime version survived day printing remarkable appears intended repeat performance new piece commissioned following year bach commissioned compose following year council inauguration evidence piece composed printed copies known survive selected recordings selection taken listing bach website roughly marked large red background green background indicates vocalists voice instrumental groups playing period instruments historically informed performances
Gott ist mein König, BWV 71