Trinitatis XIII
Sunday 14 September 2025

Trinitatis XIII is the 13th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three very classic Leipzig cantatas for this day, from the three complete cycles.

The evangelical reading of the day includes the parable of the Good Samaritan, which carries the commandments to love God and your neighbour, so the libretto of the cantatas are relating to it.

Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben, BWV 77, is a fairly short cantata from the first cycle, 1723. Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33, from 1724, is of course a chorale cantata, based on a hymn by Konrad Hubert (1507-1577), which only refers to the Good Samaritan indirectly.

The librettist Salomon Franck (1659-1725), with whom Bach worked frequently in Weimar, was also the source for the libretto of the last cantata, Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164. In his text he addresses the Christian audience with the clear reference from the parable, namely that they should be merciful as Christ ordered.

Music for today

• Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben, BWV 77
  (first performance 22 August 1723, Leipzig period)
• Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33
  (first performance 3 September 1724, Leipzig period)
• Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164
  (first performance 26 September 1725, Leipzig period)