Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11

Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach (1729)

Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen (Laud to God in all his kingdoms), BWV 11, known as the Ascension Oratorio (Himmelfahrtsoratorium), is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach, marked by him as Oratorium In Festo Ascensionis Xsti (Oratorio for the feast of the Ascension of Christ), composed for the service for Ascension and probably first performed on 15 May 1738. Bach had composed his Christmas Oratorio, based on the gospels of Luke and Matthew, in 1734. He had composed an Easter Oratorio already in 1725. The text for the Ascension Oratorio, a compilation of several biblical sources, free poetry and chorales, was presumably written by Picander who may also have worked on the libretto for the Christmas Oratorio. It follows the story of the Ascension as told in Luke, Mark and the Acts of the Apostles. The oratorio is structured in eleven movements in two parts, taking about half an hour to perform. It is framed by extended choral movements, Part I is concluded by the fourth stanza of Johann Rist's hymn "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ" in a four part setting. The closing chorale on the seventh stanza of Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer's "" is set as a chorale fantasia. The work is richly scored for the feast day, exactly like the Christmas Oratorio for four vocal parts, three trumpets, timpani, two flauti traversi, two oboes, strings and continuo.

Bach had composed his Christmas Oratorio, based on the gospels of Luke and Matthew, in 1734, a work in six parts to be performed on six occasions during Christmas tide. He had composed an Easter Oratorio already in 1725, and revised it for 1738. Bach composed the oratorio for Ascension that same year. The text for the Ascension Oratorio, a compilation of several biblical sources, free poetry and chorales, was presumably written by Picander who had been the librettist for the St Matthew Passion and other works by Bach. It follows the story of the Ascension as told both in Luke, Mark and the Acts of the Apostles. The bible narration is compiled from multiple sources: the first recitative of the Evangelist (movement 2) is from Luke 24 , the second (5) from Acts 1 and Mark 16 , the third (7) from Acts 1 , the last (9) from Luke 24 , Acts 1 , and Luke 24 The biblical words are narrated by the tenor as the Evangelist. In his third recitative two men are quoted, for this quotation tenor and bass both sing in an arioso. Part I, which tells of the Ascension, is concluded by the fourth stanza of Johann Rist's hymn "" in a four part setting. Part II reflects the reaction of the disciples. The closing chorale on the seventh stanza of Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer's "" is set as a chorale fantasia. While the music for the narration and the first chorale were new compositions in 1738, Bach based the framing choral movements and the two arias on earlier compositions. He used the model for the alto aria again much later for the of his Mass in B minor. Bach probably performed the oratorio first on 15 May 1738, while older source assumed that was composed in 1935, in the same liturgical year as the Christmaas Oratorio. In the first complete edition of Bach's works, the of the , the work was included under the cantatas (hence its low BWV number), and in the Bach Compendium it is numbered BC D 9 and included under oratorios.

The oratorio spans eleven movements in two parts to be performed before and after the sermon, 1–6 before the sermon and 7–11 after the sermon. It takes about half an hour to perform. The title on the first page of the autograph reads: quote|"J. J. Oratorium Festo Ascensionis Xsti. à 4 Voci. 3 Trombe Tamburi2 Travers. 2 Hautb. 2 Violini, Viola e Cont. di Bach >