After the really well-known cantata "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" (A mighty fortress is our God) BWV 80, Bach’s only other cantata for Reformation Day is "Gott, der Herr, ist Sonn und Schild" (God the Lord is sun and shield) BWV 79. The central chorale movement "Nun danket alle Gott" has become extremely famous separately from the cantata. This movement is characterised by the catchy melody of the two horn parts with their interludes between the lines of the chorale. These in turn are taken from the freely-composed opening chorus, thus forming a surprising link between the movement for chorus and the chorale. The chorus and both the arias in the cantata were used later in a Latin parody in the so-called "Lutheran Masses".

Scoring: Soli SAB, Coro SATB, [2 Fl], 2 Ob, 2 Cor, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Bc
Language: German/English
Duration: 15 min
Difficulty level: 1 2 3 4 5
Key: G major
Biblical text: Ps 84
Vocal Score editor: Paul Horn