Gott ist mein König (God is my King),[1] BWV 71,[a] is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach written in Mühlhausen when the composer was 22 years old.

From 1707 to 1708, Bach was the organist at one of Mühlhausen's principal churches, Divi Blasii, dedicated to St Blaise, where he composed some of his earliest surviving cantatas.

One or two early cantatas, for example Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150, may have been written at Arnstadt, his previous residence, for a performance at Mühlhausen.

He composed Gott ist mein König for a church service that was held annually to celebrate the inauguration of a new town council.

[4] The librettist is unknown; it has been speculated that the text was written by Georg Christian Eilmar, minister of Marienkirche, who had earlier prompted the composition of Bach's cantata Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131.

The use of a larger choir is partly a question of balance with the relatively large instrumental forces,[12] but there is also supporting evidence for the use of more than four singers in the score, where a marking implies that Bach envisaged the option of a vocal ensemble that is separate from the four soloists.

[13] The instruments required for the Baroque instrumental ensemble are three trumpets (Tr), timpani (Ti), two recorders (Fl), two oboes (Ob), bassoon (Fg), organ obbligato (Org), two violins (Vl), viola (Va), violoncello (Vc), viola da gamba (Vg) and basso continuo.

[6] John Eliot Gardiner, who conducted the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000 and performed this cantata in the Mühlhausen church where Bach was organist, notes: No other work of his is laid out on such a grand scale in terms of its deployment of four separate instrumental 'choirs', set against a vocal consort of four singers, an optional Capelle of ripienists and an organ.

[2][16] The opening chorus, Gott ist mein König von altersher (God is my King from long ago),[1] is based on Psalm 74:12.

[15] An aria for tenor, Ich bin nun achtzig Jahr, warum soll dein Knecht sich mehr beschweren?

)[1] is complemented by a hymn, sung simultaneously by the soprano, Soll ich auf dieser Welt mein Leben höher bringen (Should I upon this earth carry my life farther).

[15] An alto aria, Durch mächtige Kraft erhältst du unsre Grenzen (Through powerful strength You maintain our borders)[1] is based on contemporary poetry.

[6] Another psalm verse is again set as a chorus, Du wollest dem Feinde nicht geben die Seele deiner Turteltauben (You would not give the soul of Your turtledove to the enemy).

The printing is all the more remarkable as Gott ist mein König appears to have been intended for not more than one repeat performance, and a new piece was commissioned the following year.