The heavens laugh, the earth exults in gladness BWV 31

Scoring: Soli STB, Coro SSATB, Ob, 3 Tr, Timp, 2 Vl, 2 Va, Bc, [2 Ob, Tl (Eh), Fg]

The words are based on the Easter Gospel, the account of the Resurrection of Jesus, which is first joyfully celebrated. Then follows a call to the faithful: every Christian must make the Resurrection a reason to renew himself spiritually, so as to complete a kind of inner Resurrection himself.

For his scoring – which changed slightly from performance to performance – Bach called upon a five-part choir, three trumpets and timpani, three oboes, taille and bassoon, strings and basso continuo.