Bach's Cantata No. 119 "Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn" (Praise, Jerusalem, your God) (BWV 119) was composed for the election of the Leipzig city council on August 30, 1723. As befits a festive work, it is one of Bach's most opulently scored cantatas with a quartet of soloists and chorus accompanied by a huge orchestra of four trumpets and tympani, two flutes, three oboes, two oboe da caccia, strings, and basso continuo. The cantata sets an anonymous text for its central movements flanked by a chorale setting of Psalm 147, 12-14 and a chorale by Martin Luther from 1529. "Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn" is in celebratory C major, with its first, fourth, seventh, and ninth movements in the tonic; its second and third movements in the dominant of G major; its fifth movement in the minor dominant of G minor; and its brief sixth and eighth movements setting up the tonalities of the movements that follow. The first movement is a monumental French overture starting with a stately, slow introduction for full orchestra brilliantly followed by a florid 12/8 statement of the Psalm and returning to the stately introduction at the close. The second movement is a secco recitative for tenor soloist and continuo and the third is a lilting aria in the form of a trio sonata for tenor soloist, oboe da caccia, and continuo. The fourth is a highly unusual recitative with fanfares for trumpets and drums alternating with declamations for tenor soloist accompanied by oboe da caccia and continuo. The fifth is a second aria in the form of a trio sonata in 6/8 time for alto soloist, flute, and continuo. The sixth is a secco recitative for soprano and continuo followed attaca by the seventh movement's full orchestra and chorus blazing chorale fantasia. The eighth movement is a secco recitative for alto soloist and continuo. "Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn" concludes with an extremely austere harmonization of Luther's chorale for chorus and continuo without orchestra colla parte.

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