Composed for the Misericordias Domini Sunday, which fell on April 15, 1725, Bach's Cantata No. 85 "Ich bin ein guter Hirt" (I am the faithful shepherd) (BWV 85) sets John 10:12 as its first movement, a chorale by Kornelius Becker from 1598 as its third movement, a chorale by Ernst Christoph Homburg from 1658 as its sixth movement, and a text by an unknown poet for its second, fourth, and fifth movements. The cantata is scored for bass, alto, soprano, and tenor soloists; chorus; a pair of oboes; strings; and basso continuo; and a solo piccolo and cello in its second movement. "Ich bin ein guter Hirt" is in C minor with its first and final movements in the tonic, its second and third movements in the minor subdominant of G minor, its fourth movement in the major submediant of A flat major, and its fifth in the relative major of E flat major. The first movement is a doleful bass aria with an obbligato oboe, lush string counterpoint, and continuo. The second movement is an aria in the form of a trio sonata for acrobatic alto soloist, virtuoso piccolo, cello, and continuo. The third is a unique fusion of a trio sonata movement for a pair of oboes plus continuo with the soprano soloist intoning lines from Becker's chorale. The fourth is a secco recitative for tenor soloist accompanied by continuo and strings that comment on the text the tenor sings. The fifth movement is a gracious aria in 9/8 time for tenor soloist, all the upper strings in unison, and continuo. "Ich bin ein guter Hirt" concludes with a stark harmonization of Homburg's chorale for chorus and full orchestra colla parte.

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