Leopold Hofmann

Homo natus de muliere - Full Score

Man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live' is one of the central biblical texts dealing with the transitoriness of human existence. Leopold Hofmann, Kapellmeister at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna from 1772 to 1793, where W. A. Mozart was his church music assistant, also set this strongly expressive text.

Hofmann's setting, in C minor, offers an austere harmony, characterized by suspensions in a homophonic, through-composed four-part vocal setting (soloists or SATB choir), reinforced only by two trombones and organ continuo. Four concise instrumental transitional passages between the individual verses relieve the pathos laden Viennese church style of this composition. With its tragic air, in some passages it closely resembles Mozart's Requiem K. 626.

For this first edition, the two trombone parts are available both in the original clef and in alto clef. The figured bass has been realized so that the piece can also be performed without trombones, with only organ accompaniment.

For a performance this piece could easily be combined with the Salve Regina by Pietro Cassati (CV27703) from the Vienna series.