Trinitatis IX
Sunday 17 August 2025

Trinitatis IX is the 9th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three cantatas for this day, from the first, second and third annual cantata cycle Bach commenced when he was appointed as Thomaskantor in Leipzig.

First up is Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105, is based on the Parable of the Unjust Steward. The elaborate libretto is by an unknown poem, but he certainly inspired Bach to write one of his most complex cantatas, a true masterpiece.

Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94, is a chorale cantata from the second cycle, based on a hymn by Balthasar Kindermann (1636-1706).

On the first Sunday after Pentecost 1725 Bach was exactly two years Thomaskantor, a period during which he wrote at least one new cantata every week. After those two years and two complete cycles, he decides to calm down a bit. The following 8 Sundays he performs cantatas by Georg Philipp Telemann. On this ninth Sunday, Trinitatis IX, he writes again an original piece: Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort, BWV 168, based on a libretto by his beloved Weimar poem, the court librarian Salomon Franck.

Music for today

• Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105
  (first performance 25 July 1723, Leipzig period)
• Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94
  (first performance 6 August 1724, Leipzig period)
• Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort, BWV 168
  (first performance 29 August 1725, Leipzig period)