Composed for the Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity, which fell on November 27, 1726, Bach's Cantata No. 55 "Ich arme Mensch, ich Sündenknecht" (I poor man, I sin's servant) (BWV 55) sets a text by an unknown poet on the Gospel story from Matthew (Chapter 18, Verses 23 through 35) and closes with a chorale by Johann Rist from 1642. The story of the unfaithful servant has prompted the writer to concoct an excruciating text full of images of pain and suffering. The cantata is scored for tenor soloist, chorus, solo transverse flute, solo oboe d'amore, strings, and basso continuo. The cantata starts in doleful G minor and closes in the more cheerful relative major of B flat major, with its first movement in G minor, its second and third movements in D minor, and its fourth and fifth movements in B flat major. The first movement of "Ich arme Mensch, ich Sündenknecht" is large scale and has an exceedingly anguished da capo aria for tenor and full orchestra. The second movement is an agonized secco recitative for tenor and organ continuo. The third is a melancholy aria in the form of a trio sonata for tenor, highly embellished flute, and continuo. The fourth is a recitative that moves from despair to faith for tenor and strings. The cantata concludes with a quietly hopeful harmonization of Rist's chorale for the entire chorus and orchestra.

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