Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben (Lord, when our insolent enemies snort),[1] BWV 248VI (also written as BWV 248 VI), is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach, composed for Epiphany as the sixth part of his Christmas Oratorio for the Christmas season of 1734–35 in Leipzig.
Bach had presented church cantatas for the Christmas season in the Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche, including two cantatas for Epiphany:[2][3][4] For the oratorio, the libretto by an unknown author followed the nativity of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with reflecting texts for recitatives and arias, and stanzas from two Lutheran hymns.
[7][8] Bach led the first performances with the Thomanerchor at the two main churches of Leipzig on 6 January 1735.
Both scenes are composed of a quotation from the Gospel of Matthew, a recitative reflecting the narration, an aria-like prayer or meditation, and a chorale setting a stanza from a Lutheran hymn.
Bach scored the cantata for three vocal soloists, a four-part choir and a festive Baroque orchestra with trumpets, timpani, oboes and strings.