Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Chorale

Compose Date

:

before 1751

Publication Date

:

1784 - 1787

Average_duration

:

1:20

"Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit, BWV 307" is a sacred cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. The piece was composed in Leipzig in 1731 and premiered on the 27th Sunday after Trinity, which fell on November 21st of that year. The cantata is written for four-part choir, trumpet, two oboes, bassoon, strings, and continuo. The cantata is divided into three movements. The first movement is a chorale fantasia, in which the choir sings the hymn "Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit" (It is certainly time) in unison while the orchestra plays a complex and virtuosic accompaniment. The second movement is an aria for bass soloist, in which the singer reflects on the inevitability of death and the need to prepare for the afterlife. The final movement is a four-part chorale setting of the hymn, in which the choir sings the text in harmony with the orchestra. The cantata is characterized by its solemn and introspective tone, reflecting the somber subject matter of the text. The use of the trumpet in the first movement adds a regal and triumphant quality to the music, while the oboes and bassoon provide a mournful and introspective counterpoint. The bass soloist in the second movement sings with a sense of urgency and conviction, while the final chorale setting provides a sense of closure and resolution. Overall, "Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit, BWV 307" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Bach's mastery of choral and orchestral composition. Its themes of mortality and spiritual preparation continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a timeless masterpiece of sacred music.

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