Ach, wie nichtig, Ach, wie flüchtig

This German sacred setting for TTBBB voices contemplates the fleeting nature of human life and worldly possessions. The text, drawn from a sacred text, uses the metaphor of mist to describe how quickly life appears and then vanishes. It asks us to consider that all we see is transient and will fade away. The only enduring certainty is for those who fear God, promising eternal stability. Peter Cornelius’s setting offers a profound reflection suitable for contemplative occasions, allowing the rich texture of the male choir to underscore the solemnity of the message.