King of heaven, be most welcome BWV 182

Scoring: Recorder, 2 violins, 2 violas, violoncello, basso continuo

The cantata "Himmelskönig, sei willkommen" BWV 182 holds a special place in Johann Sebastian Bach's biography. He had been employed as organist and chamber musician at the court of Weimar since 1708; on 2 March 1714, he was appointed concert master of the court, and his inauguration music for this occasion was "Himmelskönig, sei willkommen." The cantata was first performed on Palm Sunday of that year, 25 March 1714.

Bach performed this cantata several times - always revising and amending it - both in Weimar and in Leipzig. Of the altogether four versions, the first Leipzig version has been selected for the present new edition. Unlike the Weimar versions, it can be realized effectively using modern performance means. In his debut composition of 1714, the newly appointed concert master demonstrated his abilities: the eight movements contain a multitude of beautiful and rewarding challenges for choir and vocal soloists alike, and in addition there is the unusual attraction of a virtuoso solo part for the recorder.