Mosaichoralmente - MVSR2690 | Music

The composition „Mosaichoralmente“ was written for the Musikverein Endorf (Sauerland, Germany). A particular concern of its conductor at the time, Gerhard Vollmer, was the continuous work on a balanced orchestral sound. Playing chorales and transcriptions of works by great masters was therefore part of their routine.

When I was commissioned to write an anniversary piece for a festive concert in 2013, I chose a hymn as the basis for my composition: “Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend” dates from the 17th century and has been adapted by numerous composers. The most famous among them was undoubtedly Johann Sebastian Bach.

I could not get the chorale melody out of my mind. I took great pleasure in playing it. More and more, small individual musical parts came together to form a whole piece. This is how the idea for the fantasy word “Mosaichoralmente” came about, which has its origin in the Italian words “mosaico” (mosaic) and “coralmente” (choral-like).

The musical ideas came and developed quickly. I didn’t feel like I had to “search” for the music. It rather “came to me” – a special ideal state that cannot be forced. Finally, at the first reading, the musicians were astonished to discover that the piece consists of exactly 100 bars. I hadn’t even noticed this myself but thought that it was a happy coincidence: after all, the orchestra was celebrating the 100th anniversary of its foundation.

Thiemo Kraas, December 2012