We do not know very much about Handel's compositions on poems by Barthold Heinrich Brockes. We can only date their composition to approximately 1724-1727. The autograph does not shed any light on the titles nor the sequence of the works. It does not even give the instrumentation. Thus there are several alternatives for the solo instrument that imitates the vocal part – although violin, flute or oboe are the most likely. Henle's practical edition not only contains additional parts for the solo instrument and the bassbut also a realization of the figured bass in the score by the editor Ullrich Scheideler.