Now thank we all our God

Telemann’s cantata Now thank we all our God cannot be assigned to any of the composer’s known annual cycles of cantatas. The given designation, ”Tempore Messis,” which appears in the title in the sole surviving source, suggests it was composed on the occasion of a harvest thanksgiving festival, but the general nature of the text means that other occasions for performance such as New Year, Reformation Day, church or organ consecrations and weddings are conceivable. Musically, the work is distinguished by two spirited choral movements reinforced by trumpets which frame a duet for tenor and bass and an aria for alto and transverse flute.