Composer

:

Bernd Franke

Genre

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

9:15

'And why? (Psalm 116)' is a contemporary choral work composed by Bernd Franke in 2016. The piece was premiered on October 30, 2016, by the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann, at the Berliner Philharmonie. The piece is divided into three movements, each exploring a different aspect of the psalm. The first movement, "And why?", is a setting of the opening lines of the psalm, which express the psalmist's gratitude for being saved from death. The music is characterized by a sense of urgency and desperation, with the choir singing in unison and the accompaniment consisting of dissonant chords and angular melodic lines. The second movement, "I love the Lord", is a more contemplative setting of the psalmist's declaration of love for God. The music is characterized by a gentle, flowing melody and lush harmonies, with the choir singing in four-part harmony. The final movement, "I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving", is a joyful and celebratory setting of the psalmist's vow to offer thanks to God. The music is characterized by a lively, syncopated rhythm and a bright, major-key melody, with the choir singing in six-part harmony. Overall, 'And why? (Psalm 116)' is a powerful and emotionally charged work that explores the themes of gratitude, love, and thanksgiving in a contemporary choral setting. Franke's use of dissonance and angular melodies in the first movement creates a sense of urgency and desperation, while the lush harmonies and flowing melodies of the second movement provide a moment of contemplation and reflection. The final movement is a joyful and celebratory expression of gratitude and thanksgiving, with the choir singing in six-part harmony and the accompaniment providing a lively and energetic backdrop.

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