(Wake, arise, the voice calls us) for soprano, tenor and bass, vocal ensemble, horn, oboe I+II, taille, bassoon, strings and continuo.

Through their interpretations of the ancient bible stories and parables, baroque church cantatas – almost as a second sermon – strove to provide guidance and instruction that was relevant to the daily lives of the congregations of the time. This was achieved in part by using well-known chorale melodies, but also new librettos for recitatives and arias that were inspired by biblical ideas. Indeed, in Bach’s time the entire Holy Scriptures were considered one entity, and the individual books and passages served to complement and illuminate each other.