Discretion is a characteristic and impressive feature of Giovanni Battista Ferrandini’s life and works and it may be said, at least until twenty years ago, that he remained well hidden amongst the host of anonymous minor Italian musicians working abroad during the 18th century. He owed his good fortune to the Bavarian Wittelsbach electoral family in Munich under two Prince Regents: Karl Albert, for a short period from 1741 Kaiser Karl VII, and Maximilian III, his son.

Given such a close relationship to the House of Wittelsbach, it was only natural that the composer should write a small body of sacred cantatas for solo voice and instruments‚ for performance at the Holy Sepulchre which was reproduced in the Munich electoral chapel.