(''One'' or ''United'') 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 ...

written on a commission from the

Ökumenischer Kirchentag 2021 The Ökumenischer Kirchentag 2021 (Ecumenical Church Assembly) was the third ecumenical convention of lay Christians of different denominations in Germany. It was held in Frankfurt, Hesse from 13 to 16 May 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ev ...

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...

Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major histor ...

, Germany, the third

ecumenical Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...

convention of lay Christians of different denominations in Germany. The text was written jointly by the Protestant pastor

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 ...

and the Catholic Franciscan

Helmut Schlegel Helmut Alfons Schlegel (born 15 May 1943) is a German Franciscan, Catholic priest, meditation instructor, author, librettist and songwriter. He is known for writing new spiritual songs (Neues Geistliches Lied), set to music by various composers. ...

. The music of many genres was composed by

Peter Reulein Peter Reulein (born 1966) is a German composer, organ improviser, academic teacher and church musician, from 2000 at the church Liebfrauen in Frankfurt am Main. In 2016 he composed for the Catholic Diocese of Limburg the Franciscan oratorio ''La ...

for the more traditional parts and by Bernhard Kießig for jazz and pop elements. The work is subtitled ''Ökumenisches Oratorium in vier Bildern für Solisten, Chor, Orchester und Band'' (Ecumenical Oratorio in four scenes for soloists, choir, orchestra and band). The oratorio was published in 2021 by the Dehm Verlag. The premiere, planned to be in a football arena with audience participation, had to happen without audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A film of a shortened version was produced as a

livestream Livestreaming is streaming media simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real-time over the internet. It is often referred to simply as streaming. Non-live media such as video-on-demand, vlogs, and YouTube videos are technically streamed, but no ...

, and first presented on 14 May 2021 as part of the Kirchentag.

References

{{italic title German-language oratorios Oratorios based on the Bible 2021 compositions Christianity in Hesse Culture of Hesse Christian ecumenism