Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende, BWV 28
(Praise God! Now the year comes to an end), BWV28, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach for the Sunday after Christmas. He first performed it on 30 December 1725. History and text Bach composed the cantata in his third year as in Leipzig for the Sunday after Christmas. The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Galatians, through Christ we are free from the law (), and from the Gospel of Luke, Simeon and Anna talking to Mary (). The cantata text is by Erdmann Neumeister: he included in the second movement the first stanza of Johann Gramann's hymn "" (1530), a Bible quotation () in the third movement, and a hymn stanza by Paul Eber for the closing chorale. The chorale theme "" (Zahn 5267) is of unknown authorship. The poet did not refer to the Bible readings for the day but portrayed thanks for the past year and prayers for preservation in the new year. Bach first performed the cantata on 30 December 1725. Structure and scoring Bach structured the cantata in six movements, scored for four vocal soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and four-part choir, and an Baroque instrumental ensemble of