The Leipzig of Bach’s day was not an independent republic, but a city belonging to the Electorate of Saxony, and it was the territorial sovereign who ultimately bore responsibility for the city’s fate and appointed its leaders. In deference to Leipzig’s significance as a trade fair city, however, an effort was made to elevate its status through symbolic acts, thus creating an appearance of self-administration, and to include as many Patrician families in the city leadership as possible. One such effort was the annual rotation of the three city councils, when one of the two “passive” councils became the “sitting” council that officially ruled the city. The inauguration took place each year in the St Nikolai church on the feast day of Bartholomew, and composing the figural music for these occasions was one of Bach’s loftiest (and best-paid) obligations in Leipzig; as such, his five council election cantatas number among his most splendidsounding compositions. BWV 120 is the result of a long and complex genesis and is derived from earlier occasional works – weddings, for instance, as well as the bicentenary of the Augsburg Confession in 1730 – with the surviving version not having been performed before 1742.

Through its scoring for an alto soloist and two oboes d’amore, the introductory movement set in the radiant key of A major exudes a tender aura that complements the sensitive rendering of the key word “Stille” (stillness). As such, the surprisingly subdued nature of the movement is an apt tonal interpretation of the heightening drama in the libretto, with its compilation of psalm text and freely versed additions; in this setting, the energy manifest in the vocal and oboe coloraturas foreshadows the impending musical eruption. In the ensuing D major chorus, replete with magnificent trumpets, the musical machinery shifts into high gear. Here, the alternating fanfares and imitative figures prepare a grand stage for the “Jauchzen” (rejoicing) of the “erfreuten Stimmen” (joyous voices), while the fugal episodes interspersed throughout the lively rondo ascend heavenwards, akin to the smoke of burnt offerings. That Bach evidently valued this exuberant chorus of praise is seen in its reuse towards the end of his life for the “Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum” movement of his B Minor Mass. In this later work, however, he omitted the more compact middle section set to the words of “Lobet Gott im Heiligtum” (Praise God in his holy shrine) – and with it a section of text that demonstratively raised the St Nikolai church of Leipzig to the new temple of an ideal commune fashioned as the divine city of Jerusalem.

The bass recitative expands on these references, and, in doing so, makes mention of the “Lindenstadt” (lindentown, an etymologically false but well-established interpretation of the name “Leipzig”), the reciprocal relationship between humble thanks and fatherly protection, and the council election procedure itself. In solemn tones, the soloist at once invokes communal unity and the hierarchy of its governors in both this world and the next.

In several of Bach’s council election cantatas, such reminders of governance fundamentals are followed by a personal reflection that presents the blessings of the new leadership as the tangible reason for a general sense of wellbeing. This notion is expressed with nigh unmatched poignancy in the lilting 6⁄8 – time soprano aria “Heil und Segen” (health and blessing), in which Bach most fittingly revived some material from a work praising the marriage union (“Leit, o Gott, durch deine Liebe” – Lead, O God, through thy love’s kindness – BWV 120a/3). Featuring a sparkling violin concertino part, the setting is also related to an early version of the sonata in G major for harpsichord and violin BWV 1019a, and in this new reworking, Bach’s experience as a violinist, virtuoso keyboardist, composer and arranger melds in music of divine elegance. Indeed, rarely have theory of the state and social cohesion been extolled with such fervency as in the setting of the psalm line “daß sich Recht und Treue müssen freundlich miteinander küssen” (so that faith and justice shall be led as friends to kiss each other). Perhaps in our modern times of mediatised conflict, we too would benefit from similar ceremonies engendering communal spirit.

Accompanied by strings, the tenor recitative forcefully pleads “daß alle Bosheit von uns fliehe und die Gerechtigkeit in unsern Hütten blühe” (that every malice may flee from us, and that true righteousness within our dwellings flourish). The reference to the divine obligations of all governments would no doubt have flowed easily enough from Bach’s pen, especially if we bear in mind that not all dignitaries seated on St. Nikolai’s council pew were well-inclined towards the city music director, who was generally considered too headstrong for his own good.

In the closing chorale, which is based on Martin Luther’s German “Te Deum”, all earthly splendour yields to an internalised prayer that consistently considers the Christian community in the context of the afterlife, a timeless message that is reflected in the archaic tone of the old Gregorian chant. In our recording, this introspective setting is followed by an intrada for brass instruments composed by Thomas Leininger using material from the introductory chorus. This addition underscores the representative nature of the inauguration church service while serving as a nod to both the Marcia section of cantata BWV 207 and the closing fanfares of the council election cantata BWV 69.