Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen, BWV 215

Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen (Praise your good fortune, blessed Saxony),[1] BWV 215,[a] is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

[2] The Neue Bach-Ausgabe has detailed background information about the events around the composition and first performance of this cantata, collected by Werner Neumann.

As the anniversary of his election as king on 5 October fell during this time, students of the University of Leipzig planned to perform a procession with torches and evening music on that day.

[4] When Augustus II the Strong died, August III followed him as both elector and king, but had to secure the throne against partisans of Stanisław I Leszczyński.

[5] The following day, the chronicle reports the death from a stroke of the trumpeter Gottfried Reiche, "Senior der Mus.

[4][6] The cantata in nine movements is scored for three soloists, soprano, tenor and bass, two four-part choirs, and a festive orchestra of three trumpets and timpani, two flauto traverso, two oboes, two violins, viola and basso continuo.

Musicologist Julian Mincham notes that Bach "makes great play of the dramatic interjections of one choir, often using the initial motive, against the uninterrupted flowing counterpoint of the other".

August III , Elector of Saxony and King of Poland
Chronicle of Leipzig for 5 and 6 October 1734