Composed for the the Feast of Trinity of 1725, Bach's Cantata No. 176 "Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding" (It is a wicked and deceitful thing) (BWV 176) sets a text by Marianne von Ziegler and closes with a chorale by Paul Gerhardt from 1653 with a text by Martin Luther. The cantata is scored for alto, soprano, and bass soloists and chorus, a pair of oboes, oboe da caccia, strings, and basso continuo. "Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding" is in six movements. The first movement is a slender and straightforward fugue for chorus and orchestra. The second is a brief secco recitative for soloist and continuo. The third is an aria in the tempo of a gavotte for soprano soloist, strings, and continuo. The fourth is a progressively more dramatic secco recitative for bass soloist and continuo. The fifth is a second dance-like aria in the form of a trio sonata for alto soloist, a pair of oboes, and oboe da caccia continuo. "Es ist ein trotzig und versagt Ding" concludes with a four-part harmonization of Gerhardt's chorale for chorus and full orchestra colla parte.

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