Composed for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity, which fell on November 26, 1724, Bach's Cantata No. 116 "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ" (Thou Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ) (BWV 116) sets a text by an anonymous poet based on the Gospel According to Matthew (24, 15-28). The cantata's music is drawn from the chorales by Jakob Ebert from 1601 that form the opening and closing choruses. The cantata is scored for alto, tenor, bass and soprano soloists, chorus, a pair of oboe d'amore, strings, and basso continuo with coronet doubling the choral sopranos in the outer movements. "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ" is predominantly in a shining A major with its first, fifth, and sixth movements in the tonic; its second movement in the relative minor of F sharp minor; and its third and fourth movements in the dominant of E major, albeit both start in dark C sharp minor before modulating to the dominant in the final bars. The first movement is essentially an orchestral overture with Ebert's first chorale set nearly homphonically for the full chorus. The second movement is a trembling aria in the form of a trio sonata for alto soloist, solo oboe d'amore, and continuo. The third is a sorrowful secco recitative for tenor and continuo. The fourth is the heart of the cantata, a glowing Terzetto for soprano, tenor, and bass soloists above the organ continuo. The fifth is an impassioned recitative for soprano and strings. "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ" concludes with a simple harmonization of Ebert's second chorale for chorus and full orchestra colla parte.

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