Composer

:

Gottfried August Homilius

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

1:58

'Was hast du, Mensch' is a sacred cantata composed by Gottfried August Homilius, a German composer and church musician of the late Baroque era. The cantata was composed in 1765 and premiered in the same year in Dresden, Germany. The cantata consists of three movements, each of which is based on a biblical text. The first movement is a recitative for bass soloist, based on Psalm 8:5, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?". The second movement is an aria for alto soloist, based on Psalm 103:14, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust". The final movement is a chorale, based on the hymn "Was hast du, Mensch, von Gott empfangen?" by Paul Gerhardt. The cantata is characterized by its expressive and emotional music, which reflects the text of the biblical passages. The first movement is somber and introspective, with the bass soloist questioning the nature of humanity and its relationship with God. The second movement is more hopeful, with the alto soloist singing of God's mercy and compassion towards humanity. The final movement is a joyful and celebratory chorale, with the choir and orchestra joining together to praise God for his gifts to humanity. Overall, 'Was hast du, Mensch' is a beautiful and moving sacred cantata that showcases Homilius' skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the religious texts that inspired his music. Its premiere in Dresden in 1765 was a testament to Homilius' popularity and influence as a composer and church musician in his time.

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