This large cantata was most likely composed in 1713, as we know it was performed in 1714, and in 1723 structured in eleven movements including the opening sinfonia. It is scored for choir and soloists, oboe, strings, continuo, three trumpets and timpani. At some point there would have been trombones playing alongside the vocal parts.
The structure of the cantata is in two parts, and the outline is mostly palindromic across the cantata and within each part. The cantata moves from grief to reassurance to joy – the first chorus uses suspensions and imitation to depict the grief felt, whilst the last chorus is the same text as Handel sets at the end of Messiah.
- Chorus ‘Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis in meinem Herzen’ (I had much grief in my heart)
- Aria ‘Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not’ (sighs, tears, sorrow, stress)
- Recitative ‘Wie hast du dich, mein Gott’ (Why have you, God, in my distress turned away from me?)
- Aria ‘Bäche von gesalznen Zähren’ (Streams of salty tears)
- Chorus ‘Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele’ (Why are you distressed, my soul?)
- Recitative Duet ‘Ach Jesu, meine Ruh’ (Ah Jesus, my inner peace)
- Aria Duet ‘Komm, mein Jesu, und erquicke’ (Come my Jesus, and restore)
- Chorus ‘Sei nun wieder zufrieden, meine Seele’ (Be satisfied again now, my soul)
- Aria ‘Erfreue dich, Seele, erfreue dich, Herze’ (Rejoice my soul, rejoice my heart)
- Chorus ‘Das Lamm, das erwürget ist’ (The lamb that was slain is worthy to receive)
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