BWV 1083 “Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden” (Blot out, Highest, my transgressions): “Cultural appropriation” was nearly named the non-word of the year in 2022/23. Often used to describe thoughtless imitation or even mockery of other cultures, the criticism is frequently justified. And yet, culture has always evolved through exchange, adaptation, and transformation. To reject that dynamic entirely would be to risk artistic stagnation. A striking early example of such creative interplay is J. S. Bach’s reworking of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. Just four years before his death, Bach transformed this Italian masterpiece into a new work: Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden (BWV 1083), set to a paraphrase of Psalm 51 by an unknown librettist. He restructured movements, rewrote vocal lines, and infused the piece with his own musical language. The result? No longer Pergolesi, not quite Bach, but something uniquely captivating – for purists and enthusiasts alike.