Bach, Johann Sebastian : “O Jesu Christ, my Life and Light” BWV 118

The new edition of BWV 118 presents the work in the two different instrumental settings that are authenticated through the autograph scores: the earlier version with solely brass instruments, and the later one with mixed instruments. Both versions are printed consecutively. Of particular interest for an authentic performance are two Litui, which are called for in both versions. To this day it has been impossible to determine what instruments are meant here: high horns in B flat? Or trumpets? The work has more unanswered questions for us for example, the occasion for which the first version was written in ca. 1736/37, and the reason why the work was newly orchestrated after 1740.