is an

oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...

composed by Thomas Gabriel to a

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

in German by

Eugen Eckert Eugen Eckert (born 1954) is a German social worker, minister, singer-songwriter and academic teacher. He is known for his lyrics for new spiritual songs (Neues Geistliches Lied), and his oratorios and musical plays. Career Born in Frankfurt am ...

. The work in seven scenes and a prologue is based on the life of

Martin Luther Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Reformation, Protestant Refo ...

. It was written for the 500th anniversary of the

Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

in 2017. The composition is set for narrator, soloists, mixed choir, band and orchestra, and includes both Luther hymns and

pop ballads A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. C ...

. ''Bruder Martin'' was premiered open air in Tecklenburg on 17 September 2017, with the performers dressed in period costumes. It was published by Strube Verlag.

History

The oratorio was commissioned in 2014 for the regional

Kirchentag The German Evangelical Church Assembly (German ''Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag'', DEKT) is an assembly of lay members of the Evangelical Church in Germany, that organises biennial events of faith, culture and political discussion. History ...

of the districts Tecklenburg, Steinfurt-Coesfeld-Borken and Münster of the Protestant Church, to celebrate 500 years after

, in 2017. The team of the Protestant pastor

for the text and the Catholic church musician Thomas Gabriel for the music, who had collaborated on oratorios before, began in November 2014 to realize the ecumenical project. The preparations and rehearsals of many groups including lay singers took more than a year, culminating in two rehearsals for the complete cast. The premiere was performed on 17 September 2017 on the open-air stage at a castle ruin in

Tecklenburg Tecklenburg () is a town in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Its name comes from the ruined castle around which it was built. The town is situated on the Hermannsweg hiking trail. The coat of arms shows an anchor a ...

, which seats 2,300 people. Both authors attended the performance. The premiere was conducted by

Kirchenmusikdirektor Kirchenmusikdirektor (KMD, director of church music) is a German title for professional church musicians (' who have responsibility for not only a parish but a larger region, in both Protestant and Catholic church music. The title is also sometimes ...

Martin Ufermann from

Westerkappeln Westerkappeln is a municipality in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated approximately 15 km north-west of Osnabrück Osnabrück (; wep, Ossenbrügge; archaic ''Osnaburg'') is a city in the Germa ...

. The narrator was , formerly Präses of the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen. The choir was formed by around 300 singers. The performers were dressed in costumes of the Reformation period which some made themselves. Westerkappeln Stadtkirche 09

Two more performances were held at the Stadtkirche Westerkappeln, with 180 choir singers of Junger Chor and Kantorei from Westerkappeln and the Ki-Pop-Chor from

Mettingen Mettingen is a municipality in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Geography Mettingen is situated approximately 25 km east of Rheine and 20 km west of Osnabrück. Neighbouring places Neighbour villages of ...

, the Orchester Musica Viva from

Ibbenbüren Ibbenbüren ( Westphalian: ''Ippenbürn'') is a medium-sized town in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Geography Ibbenbüren is situated on the Ibbenbürener Aa river, at the northwest end of the Teutoburger forest ...

and the Luther-Rockband. ''Bruder Martin'' was played again in

Seligenstadt Seligenstadt is a town in the Offenbach (district), Offenbach district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt (region), Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. Seligenstadt is one of Germany's oldest towns and was already of great importance in Carolingian ...

in October 2017. The oratorio was published by Strube Verlag.

Composition

''Bruder Martin'' is structured in seven scenes and a prologue. Episodes from the life of

are presented in chronological order, with a focus on his intention to reform the church, not to split it. The scenes deal with his hopes, doubt and conflicts, and both his supporters and adversaries appear. The composition is set for a narrator, 23 soloists, mixed choir, a band, and an orchestra. The music includes stanzas from Luther's hymns,

rap Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

, and "groovy" choral scenes. A performance takes about two and a half hours.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Bruder 2017 compositions Martin Luther Oratorios