This Sinfonia is a rare chorale fantasia in Bach's cantatas, featuring a trumpet playing the "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" chorale melody as a cantus firmus against polyphonic strings. It marks the beginning of Part II of Cantata BWV 75, composed for Bach's inaugural service as Thomaskantor in Leipzig.
Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, is the first church cantata Bach composed after assuming his position as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. Premiered on May 30, 1723, at the Nikolaikirche, it marked the beginning of Bach's ambitious project to create complete annual cycles of cantatas for the Lutheran liturgical year. The opening chorus is structured as a French overture, featuring a slow section in dotted rhythm followed by a fast fugue, showcasing Bach's mastery of large-scale forms.
