In 2017 – the year of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation – the Evangelical Church of Westphalia commissioned compositions under the theme “Dialoge 2017” (Dialogues 2017). Inspired by texts, form or free association, these compositions were created in the form of a “dialogue” with selected cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach. “Gottes Schweigen” by Martin Herchenröder is in dialogue with Joh. Seb. Bach’s choral “Aus tiefer Not” (From deep distress) and his cantata of the same name (BWV 38).