Indian Temple Sounds around Heinrich Schütz

Vocal soloists ensemble Gli Scarlattisti
Instrumentalists: continuo group; Violin Sisters (India)
Conductor: Jochen Arnold

On this evening, Christianity and Hinduism meet - both in content and musically - in questions surrounding birth, death, and redemption. The Baroque "Musical Exequies" by Heinrich Schütz, an early Protestant requiem in German, are juxtaposed with improvisations of Carnatic music. Prayers over 1000 years old from South India resound in melodic phrases, modal tonality (ragas), and cyclical rhythms (talas). Both traditions are united by the human voice with all its capabilities between pitches, harmonies, and articulations - historically inspired Baroque performance practice meets authentic Indian temple music, united in the question: What breaks the cycle of death?

Program: Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672): Musical Exequies (SWV 279-281) and Carnatic temple music from various centuries (texts in Sanskrit):
Prelude: Cycle of Life (Nada Brahma) - Musical Exequies (Part Ia, Kyrie) - Interlude (Prayer to God Shiva for Redemption) - Musical Exequies (Part Ib and Part II) - Interlude (Hearing - Transformation by Shiva) - Musical Exequies (Part III) - Postlude