Category: Choir / Vocal , Organ / Sacred Music
Movements:
Duration: 4 minutes
Publisher of notes/sheet music: Strube-Verlag , Edition Strube 6844 , 2014
Instrumentation: Choir 1 (S A T B ) and choir 2 (S A T B), one as main choir (large) and one ad libitum as remote choir (small). In addition: bourdon (organ pedal or bass instruments ad libitum) and (playable by the choristers) a "prayer bell" (free combination of metallic sounds of triangle, cymbal, gong, tam-tam, singing bowl, tubular bell, etc.)
Text/Lyrics by: Text (Psalm51, verse 3, 12-14 according to the Latin 'Vulgata Bible', as well as the German translation by Martin Luther, revised 1984 by the German Bible Society, Stuttgart)
Introduction: The two choirs can be separated physically as a main choir and a remote choir. Choristers of the main choir, professional musicians or amateurs play the percussion instruments of the „prayer bell“ (triangles, finger cymbals, several cymbals, bells in E or untuned, tam-tam and gong) ad libitum. A comparison of the Latin and the German text was used to make the archaic dimensions of this 4th repentance psalm perceptible. The bourdon bass can be represented with an organ pedal (8’+16’); however, in addition or alternatively, all other bass instruments or bass groups can be used (e.g. „6 double basses“, „bassoon and cello“, synthesizer, etc.).
Text:
Miserere mei Deus secundum misericordiam tuam
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum / dele iniquitatem meam.
Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein reines Herz, und gib mir einen neuen beständigen Geist.
Verwirf mich nicht von deinem Angesicht, und nimm deinen Heiligen Geist nicht von mir.
Erfreue mich wieder mit deiner Hilfe, und mit einem willigen Geist rüste mich aus.
Dedication: dedicated to Benedikt Haag on cordial terms
Additional remarks: Commissioned work for the Munich 'Motettenchor' and the regional bishop of the 'Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche' (Evangelical Lutheran Church) Bavaria
World premiere: 19.11.2014, 'Matthäuskirche' Munich am Sendlinger Tor
Performers at world premiere: ARD (public broadcasting station) church service of the 19th of November, 2014 (Buß- und Bettag - Repentance Day) 10:00 AM 'Matthäuskirche' Munich
with the Munich 'Motettenchor' , Martin Wiedenhofer (organ) Cond.: Benedikt Haag
Press reviews for world premiere: The audio samples below are from the ARD tv recording of the world premiere of the 19th of November, 2014
