Dresden cycle

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The Dresden cycle ( RMWV 4) is a secular and sacred choral work by the Dresden Kreuzkantor Rudolf Mauersberger . It was created from 1945 to 1950, and the final extensions were made in 1955. The twelve movements of the cycle are divided into three parts. The work is composed for mixed choir a cappella , solo parts are added in individual movements, movement 5 is accompanied by the piano.

History of origin

The Dresden cycle was the first of Mauersberger's major works to deal with the events of the destruction of Dresden from February 13-14, 1945 . The work was created in Mauersberger's fourth creative period both in Dresden and in Mauersberg in the Ore Mountains. The total premiere took place on July 7, 1951 in Dresden by the Dresdner Kreuzchor .

Text selection

The work begins with the motet How is the city so desolate , which Mauersberger composed under the impression of the destruction of Dresden on Holy Saturday 1945. For this he chose texts from the Lamentations of Jeremiah . In response to the funeral motets , he lets Paul Gerhardt's song of consolation from the Thirty Years' War. And yet you don't have to follow it completely sinking into sadness . Ten four- to eight-part motets from the years of the new beginning after the war follow.

structure

The structure follows the Rudolf Mauersberger works directory.

RMW 4 Work title and beginning of text text occupation Autograph
part One
1 How is the city so desolate
funeral hymn		 Lamentations of Jeremiah four to eight voices 1945 / Holy Saturday 1945
2 Solace song from the 30 Years War
And yet you don't have to sink completely into sadness with the final chorale. You have to stand on God's love 		Paul Gerhardt 4-6 voices 1945 / Easter 1945
3 The thirteenth of February:
“Fight to the end! We do not surrender! Every house a fortress! ”So came the thirteenth of February 		Rudolf Decker four to eight voices 1947 / 18. – 22. August 47 in Mauersberg
4th Dresden in spring 1945:
On your grave, beloved city, the cherry tree blossoms white 		Esther von Kirchbach for 2 boy solo voices and four-part choir 1947 / May 31, 1947
Part II
5 The old Dresden dance of death:
This is the Dresden Mummenschanz 		Kurt Arnold Findeisen Bass solo , four- to eight-part choir and piano 1947 / 3rd – 5th August 1947 in Mauersberg
6th Kreuzkirche:
Fire fell from the sky on Mardi Gras The legend of Dresden Kreuzkirche		 Kurt Arnold Findeisen four to nine voices 1947 / 3rd – 5th August 1947 in Mauersberg
7th Hymn on two pillar
remains On two pillar remains of the school of the cross / pillar hymn
1st version: O eternally unforgettable, horrible night
2nd version Shrouded by the night of death 		Paul Dittrich for boy solo voice and four to eight-part choir 1st version: 1947 / May 1947
2nd version Date of the 2nd copy of the score 9 July 1963
Part III
8th Schola Crucis:
Schola crucis, schola lucis, Imus, Domine, quo ducis 		Motto of the Kreuzschule Dresden four to eight voices 1946 / August 46 i. Mauersberg
9 Chronica musica cruciana:
The Kreuzchor is old 		Rudolf Decker four to eight voices 1947 / 6. – 9. August 47 in Mauersberg
10 Stadt am Strom:
And I always want to look at you 		Friedrich Lüning for four- to eight-part choir and solo (soprano 1/2, alto) 1st version: 1950 / 19. – 20. October in Dresden
2nd version: 1951 / 7.5.51
Out of order
11 Dresden 1945:
thirst for revenge overthrew the flourishing city 		Hans Jesora four to seven voices 1955, August
12 Prayer:
Our Father, God of old worlds!
For laying the foundation stone or consecration of a church
2nd version with final chorale: The Ewgen forecourt is in this place 		Felix Menschel
2nd version: Text / Weise (Choral): Based on a Latin hymn from the 8th century by Johann Crüger 		1st version: four to five parts
2nd version: for 3 choirs (main choir: four to five parts, altar choir: four parts, long choir: four parts)		 1st version: 1947 / 8. – 10. August 1947 in Mauersberg
2nd version: Date of the copy of the score: September 25, 1961

reception

The musicologist Matthias Herrmann sees the work, like the Erzgebirge cycle, more as a vocal collection [...] on a specific topic [...] than as a convincing complete work [...] .

literature

Individual evidence and note

  1. ↑ a b c The information on the number of votes in the structure table is based on the RMWV; Green, on the other hand, speaks of ten four- to eight-part motets.
  2. ↑ autograph not available; Dating after Matthias Herrmann
  3. ^ Matthias Herrmann: Kreuzkantor zu Dresden Rudolf Mauersberger . 1st edition. Mauersberger Museum, 2004, ISBN 3-00-015131-1 .