Joy and trust in God: One of the highlights of Bach’s extensive cantata oeuvre is his call to awake and hear the Bridegroom’s voice, “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”. Written in 1731, the cantata compares the human soul’s union with Jesus Christ to an eagerly awaited wedding, radiating the same joy and confident expectation as “Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott” based on Martin Luther’s familiar hymn. Known to English congregations as “A safe stronghold our God is still”, this anthem of the Protestant Reformation celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the assurance of entry into the kingdom of heaven.