Composed for the Feast of the Epiphany in 1725, Bach's Cantata No. 123 "Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen" (Dearest Emmanuel, Lord of the Faithful) (BWV 123) sets a chorale poem by Ahasverus Fritsch in its first and last movements and a text by an unknown writer for its central movements. Although nominally composed for a feast day, Bach's music dwells more on the dark and dour than on the festive and celebratory. The cantata is scored for alto, tenor and bass soloists, chorus, a pair of transverse flutes, a pair of oboes, strings, and basso continuo. "Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen" is in bleak B minor with its first, fifth, and sixth movements in the tonic; its second movement starting on the dominant of F sharp minor and ending on its relative major of A major; its third back in F sharp minor, and its fourth in the relative major of D major. The first movement is an expansive chorale fantasia with the full orchestra playing independent parts around and above the straightforward chorale setting. The second is a very brief and very dry secco recitative for soloist and continuo. The third is an elaborate da capo aria in the form of a trio sonata opening Lente with a central section un poco allegro for tenor soloist, a pair of imitative oboe d'amore, and continuo. The fourth is a brief secco recitative for bass soloist and continuo. The fifth, and the heart of the cantata, is a second da capo aria in the form of a trio sonata, this time for bass soloist, solo transverse flute, and continuo. "Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen" concludes with a chorale harmonization for chorus and full orchestra colla parte.

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