[1] Bach drew on material he had composed more than a decade earlier for the cantata Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36.1.
[3] The text pays homage to Johann Florenz Rivinius [de], who was appointed Rector of Leipzig University in October 1735,[citation needed] and the cantata was likely written for his ceremonial appointment as the highest-ranking professor of the Faculty of Law at the University of Leipzig in May 1739.
[1] In 1727 Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander) had published an earlier version of the text, the birthday cantata Steigt freudig in die Luft, BWW 36.2, which was also set by Bach.
[5][6][7] The cantata is scored for four soloists, soprano, alto, tenor and bass, a four-part choir, flauto traverso, two oboes d'amore, two violins, viola and basso continuo.
[8] As in BWV 36.1, the first movement is cheerful in nature, and the tenor aria includes a significant oboe d'amore line.