The opening recitative is harmonically active but melodically fragmented because of the unusual choice to set balanced couplets in recitative. The first aria is characterized by a "restless feeling of effort" beginning immediately after the short instrumental ritornello, and is the only one in da capo form. The second recitative is the only one to be accompagnato, with the strings supporting a harmony that "begins to slide around like quicksand". The second aria has a flowing ritornello theme provided by continuo and obbligato violin. The third recitative is secco with "two bursts of operatic virtuosity". The third aria is in ternary form and minor mode. The fourth recitative includes an arioso passage ending on an "exceedingly odd" cadence. The final movement is the only one to include all instrumental parts, with a dance-like opening theme and an ABAB structure.

Librettist Christian Friedrich Hunold (1681–1721)
Date of composition 1727 (1726-1727)
Premiered 1727
First published 1862
Type Secular Cantata
Tonality B-flat Major
Catalogue BWV 204
Instruments Voice
Orchestra
Links
Autotranslations beta Jean-Sébastien Bach: Ich bin in mir vergnügt en si bémol majeur, BWV 204
Johann Sebastian Bach: Ich bin in mir vergnügt in si bemolle maggiore, BWV 204
Johann Sebastian Bach: Ich bin in mir vergnügt B-dur, BWV 204