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Wer sucht die Pracht, wer wünscht den Glanz (Who seeks the splendour, who desires the radiance), BWV 221, is a cantata by an unknown composer, formerly attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach. The event for which it was written is also unknown.

Scoring and structure

The cantata is scored for tenor and bass soloists, bassoon, three violins, viola, cello and organ.

It has nine movements:

1. Sinfonia
2. Recitative (tenor): Wer sucht die Pracht, wer wünscht den Glanz
3. Duet aria (tenor and bass): Seele suchst du dein Vergnügen
4. Recitative (bass): Umsonst ist hier die Kunst, nur Schatten
5. Aria (tenor): Felsenfest muß der Grund von Herzen Stehen
6. Recitative (bass): So ist denn das dein einziges Bemühen
7. Aria (bass): Entfernet euch, Vergänglichkeiten
8. Recitative (tenor): O schöner Schluß, o wohl
9. Duet aria (tenor and bass): Der Himmel selbst zerfällt, sein Glanz

Recording

• Alsfelder Vokalensemble / Steintor Barock Bremen, Wolfgang Helbich. The Apocryphal Bach Cantatas. CPO, 1991.

Notes

1. "BWV" is Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, a thematic catalogue of Bach's works.

References

1. "Cantata BWV 221 Wer sucht die Pracht, wer wünscht den Glanz". Bach Cantatas Website. Archived from the original on 2017-05-14. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
2. "Cantates 217–224" (in French). Université du Québec. Retrieved 18 May 2013.

• Cantatas
• Bach: spurious and doubtful works