The symposium "Kirchen, Kult & Kl?nge" (Churches, Cult & Sounds), a cooperation event between the MHL and the Kulturkirche St.Petri, took place from 5 to 8 October 2023. The project initiators, Prof. Franz Danksagmüller and Dr. Bernd Schwarze, invited church musicians and theologians of both denominations from all over Germany to take a directional look at the future of the church and the music that resounds in it in numerous lectures, workshops and performances as well as a final discussion.
Around 100 participants visited the multifaceted events with great interest, which took place alternately in the Chamber Music Hall of the MHL and the churches of St. Petri and St. Jakobi. Prof. Franz Danksagmüller sums up: "It was an immensely enriching symposium, the feedback very positive. It ranged from 'something like this should have taken place 30 years ago' to 'we have to do this again'. I am thrilled with our students, their musical contributions and their great help in the organisation."
In addition to presentations by the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Regensburg and the Hochschule für Musik Weimar, the MHL was able to present itself in particular with compositions created in the IKN profile (selectable since 2013), which have since also been requested by some participants for their own musical work. Further publications from the IKN profile are planned. With regard to church music studies, Franz Danksagmüller sees the symposium as a clear signal for the endeavour to renew training. "That we church musicians have to become more creative, more authentic again, that has become more widespread in the meantime." This direction was also reinforced by a participant responsible for job advertisements with a statement during the final discussion: "This way church music has a meaning again."
Work is currently underway on the documentation of the symposium. In addition, the next innovative congress will follow immediately next November 2023: the "org_art_lab" in Hamburg, St. Nikolai (6 to 12 November 2023), which will work on new music and new techniques in connection with Hyper-Orgel, present the first results in concerts and designed church services and expect interdisciplinary insights into other worlds of sound and art with the overtone singer and improviser Anna-Maria Hefele and the dancer Kenzo Kusada. The music created there and the projects conceived are to be performed gradually in St. Nikolai next year.
A theological-liturgical-church-musical future workshop
A lot has to happen. Very soon. Our churches: they are valued as houses of culture, as monuments with tourist appeal, as "other places" in the middle of our cities. In some places, church services are still well attended. How much longer? The institutions are crumbling, credibility is waning, and the loss of tradition can hardly be stopped. They still flock to the Christmas Oratorio and the St. Matthew Passion. How much longer? Listening habits have changed, the entire musical culture is in a constant state of flux, and for many the great works are at best only a memory. What sounds are needed today, what narratives, what staging, to bring new magic to the spaces, their atmosphere and their meanings? Is pop music the solution, or is it new experimental works? Do we just need better sermons, or do we need to tell completely different stories? Do we just need to adapt our liturgies or completely reinvent them? The University of Music 明升m88体育_明升体育官网-在线|平台 and the Kultur- und Universit?tskirche St. Petri zu 明升m88体育_明升体育官网-在线|平台 - the "Church at the Zero Point of Religion" - invite you to experience and explore the never thought of, the hardly ever said and the unheard of.
- THU - SUN / 05 - 08 / OCT / 23
Symposium
on new directions and innovative concepts with best practice examples from speakers from church music, theology and conservatory.
For church musicians, theologians, as well as for lecturers, students and those interested in studying.
A cooperation between the Kultur- und Universit?tskirche St. Petri zu 明升m88体育_明升体育官网-在线|平台 and the MHL in collaboration with the Kirchenmusikhochschule Regensburg and the Musikhochschule Weimar.
