Par SCHROEDER HERMANN. Langue : Latin/ Répertoire / Schola, Paroisse, Choeur SATB et Orgue

Martin Luther. Par SCHNEIDER ENJOTT. On the occasion of the quincentenary of Reformation Day in 2017, the composer Enjott Schneider thoroughly studied Martin Luther the individual and all his contradictions. The result is a brilliant, demanding organ symphony which is perfect for concerts on the subject of Reformation and Martin Luther. The composer describes the five movements of the symphony as follows: '1st movement: Wir glauben all an einen Gott with its quintuplet-like beginning is very Gregorian in style, outlining the range of Lutheran emotionalism between the Middle Ages and the modern era. The irrationality of 'faith' ultimately has priority over any thought and evidence. At the beginning of the movement, sounds of knocking on wood remind of the nailing of the Ninety-Five Theses to the doors of churches in Wittenberg. The chorale melody sometimes hides with an almost rough medieval saltarello, referring to Luther's robustness and vitality with which he knew to carry away even common people. 2nd movement: In 1530, the electoral prince of Saxony presented to Luther at Coburg Castle the golden signet ring with the 'Luther rose' which became the symbol of his theology of grace. A white heart with black cross is fixed on a five-petalled rose. To him, 'white' is the colour of angels and ghosts, 'black' stands for the pain of crucification: 'The just shall live by faith, but by faith in the Crucified.' But the fact that the rose and the heart are the dominating symbols shows how Catholic Marian piety remained an ingredient of Luther's spirituality throughout his life. In line with the dominant five-petal structure of the rose, this movement was composed, to a large extent, in accordance with the floating, lyrical rhythm in 5/8 time. 3rd movement: The omnipresence of death and dying – from the plague and war to the never-ending dangers of daily life – was an essential part of the world view of that time. Fears ensued that might heighten into the grotesque, e.g. in the pictures of Hieronymus Bosch. The 'Danse macabre' was a popular motif in those years. Luther's chorale 'Mitten wir im Leben sind / mit dem Tod umfangen' from 1524 ('Enchiridion' from Erfurt) is based on the Gregorian chant 'Media vita in morte sumus' created in France around 750 and, with its idea of transience, inspired a simplistic air. 4th movement: The famous confession delivered at the Diet of Worms in 1521, 'I stand here and can say no more. God help me. Amen', are not Luther's words but the version later used as text for a pamphlet. However, it represents quite plainly the straightforwardness and inevitability of his mission. Musically, it was made into a 'perpetuum mobile', i.e. a dogged, ostinato and never-ending musical air. 5th movement: The 'Mighty Fortress', on the other hand, is one of the great symbols of Martin Luther which, with its shining C major key, embodies the Protestant ideology and willful nature of the Reformation unlike any other song. Heinrich Heine called it the 'Marseille anthem of the Reformation', Friedrich Engels the 'Marseillaise of the Peasants' Wars'. This disputability is not thought through to the end but rather interrupted: With a jubilant 'birdcall version' of the melody, the finale shows a rather chamber-music-like side of the 'ideals of freedom of Christians'.'/ Répertoire / Orgue

St. Michael. Par BOURGEOIS LOUIS. The French composer Louis Bourgeois lived from c. 1510 to 1560. Bourgeois was cantor in Geneva and, commissioned by John Calvin, he composed melodies for metrical (rhyming) versions of the psalms. After completing about a hundred one-part psalms, he made some four-part arrangements, which were denounced and even resulted in his imprisonment for a day. Later, Bourgeois published a number of psalm collections, and judging from his book Le droict chemin de musique he was also an excellent educator. The melodies Bourgeois composed, are (contrary to Gregorian chants) particularly suitable for community singing. This applies to his hymn tune Saint Michael, which is why this melody hasbeen used for various texts, written for many occasions. John Blanken made this arrangement for a wedding ceremony: an occasion in which faith and trust play a large - if not the largest - role. Hence the title Hymn of Faith. The arrangement contains four verses of the hymn. After a majestic opening the hymn follows twice, the second verse being embellished in the tenor register. After a short interlude verse three follows, played by a quartet. The majestic opening is then repeated as a modulation into the fourth verse, which concludes the work in a brilliant tutti. / Niveau : 3 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Brass Band

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. From Ancient Times is a major work for brass band, inspired largely by the music of the Franco-Flemish School of the Renaissance. Hints of Gregorian chant and middle age dances pay tribute to music from even earlier times. The foundation of this spectacular work rests on truly ‘ancient times’ while the tonal language is of a much more modern nature! / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Brass Band

Introductie en variaties over het Dies Irae. Par DE HAAN JAN. De Ruigewaard is a large polder (reclaimed land protected by dykes) in the Dutch province of Groningen. Shortly after the land was reclaimed around 1500, a settlement was established at the location of the current village of Grijpskerk. This was the source of inspiration for this concert work, together with a 13th-century Gregorian theme - the Dies Irae - which is used as a leitmotiv. After the introduction follow five variations, in randon order - however, each one of them carries us back to a striking moment in the history of Grijpskerk, home of the Excelsior Christian Music Association (CMV), who commissioned this work on the occasion of its participation in theWMC in Kerkrade (the Netherlands) in 2013. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Date parution : 1905-07-05/ Répertoire / Fanfare

Par FERRARIO PIETRO. Jubilate Deo was written an June 2002, and dedicated by the composer to his Ensemble vocale Calycanthus. The first world performance took place in Italy at Isola Vicentina – Santuario di S. Maria del Cengio, by the Ensemble vocale Calycanthus, on May 2003, 10th. The piece was unanimously awarded the first prize at the International Trophy of Choral Composition “C. A. Seghizzi” 2004 at Gorizia [Italy], and was performed during the prestigious final of the European Choral Grand Prix 2004 by Ars Cantica Choir. The motet has a great rhythmic vivacity, with rich and colourful harmonies. It has a simple structure A-B-A’. The contrasting central section is more meditative, with manysolos, and echoes from Gregorian chant. The final section is a shortened and varied recapitulation of the first one, treated with increasing energy, exaltation and harmonic surprise. / Musique contemporaine / Répertoire / Choeur SSAATTBB

Par TOMASI HENRI. French composer and conductor, Henri Tomasi (1901-1971) published Variations Gregoriennes Sur Un Salve Regina 1964. As with his other wind compositions, Gregorian Variations for Trumpet and String Orchestra and Organ reduction was well-received by audiences. Tomasi was born in Marseille, but his Father and Mother were originally from La Casinca in Corsica. Despite being pressured in to musical studies by his parents, Tomasi dreamed of becoming a sailor, and during the summer, he stayed with his Grandmother in Corsica where he learnt traditional Corsican songs. However, in1921, he began his studies at the Paris Conservatoire and went on to become a high profile composer and conductor. Tomasi did not forget his Corsican routes, often incorporating themes of the songs he had learnt during the summers with his Grandmother into his compositions. Variations Gregoriennes Sur Un Salve Regina is a highly unusual and modern work based on an old Marian Hymn (a song for the Virgin Mary). The variations exploit tonality, rhythm and structure amongst other aspects. This Tomasi piece is suitable for advanced trumpeters, providing an exciting, alternative addition to the instrument's repertoire./ Répertoire / Trompette et Orgue

Par PART ARVO. Arvo Pärt wrote the prayer of peace Da pacem Domine to fulfil a commission from Jordi Savall. He began to set this ninth-century Gregorian antiphon two days after the Madrid bombings on 11 March 2004 as his personal tribute to the victims. Since then Da pacem Domine has been performed every year in Spain to commemorate the victims of this terrorist attack. Even while originally composing this four-voice piece, Pärt made allowances for variable scorings. As a result, it exists in several versions, not only for voice but also entirely for instruments. Wolfgang Sandner Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris quia non est alius qui pugnet pro nobis nisi tu Deus noster./ Répertoire / Orchestre à Cordes

Waldkircha in Musica. Par DE HAAN JACOB. Jubilate’s main theme comes from the Gregorian chant on the Psalm Jubliate Deo omnis terra. The work itself was inspired by the sacredhistory of the Waldkirch (a forest village) community, located on the Swiss/German boarder. It tells a tale of the Irish and Scottish monks who build the first wooden church at the site of what is now Waldkirch, of the dramatic events, good and bad, that have taken place over the centuries and of the flourishing community that has withstood the trials of time. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

St. Michael. Par BOURGEOIS LOUIS. The French composer Louis Bourgeois lived from c. 1510 to 1560. Bourgeois was cantor in Geneva and, commissioned by John Calvin, he composed melodies for metrical (rhyming) versions of the psalms. After completing about a hundred one-part psalms, he made some four-part arrangements, which were denounced and even resulted in his imprisonment for a day. Later, Bourgeois published a number of psalm collections, and judging from his book Le droict chemin de musique he was also an excellent educator. The melodies Bourgeois composed, are (contrary to Gregorian chants) particularly suitable for community singing. This applies to his hymn tune Saint Michael, which is why this melody hasbeen used for various texts, written for many occasions. John Blanken made this arrangement for a wedding ceremony: an occasion in which faith and trust play a large - if not the largest - role. Hence the title Hymn of Faith. The arrangement contains four verses of the hymn. After a majestic opening the hymn follows twice, the second verse being embellished in the tenor register. After a short interlude verse three follows, played by a quartet. The majestic opening is then repeated as a modulation into the fourth verse, which concludes the work in a brilliant tutti. / Niveau : 3 / Hymnes et chorals / Répertoire / Brass Band