Entries by Meinrad Walter

A Musical and Literary Program for Advent

/in /by

By leaning into the model of the French concert spirituel, Handel’s universally beloved Messiah, which generally weighs in at around three hours, can be transformed into the central focus of a tailor-made pasticcio for the Advent season. When selected excerpts from the oratorio are combined with literary and liturgical readings, along with congregational singing, the result is a compelling one-hour program, both engaging and much more economical to produce.

Günter Graulich celebrates his 100th birthday

/in /by

“With music, things become easier; they happen more quickly. A song can have the power of an icebreaker.” On July 2, 2026, Günter Graulich celebrates his 100th birthday. Finding the right words to describe this remarkable man, even after many years of acquaintance, is both difficult and surprisingly easy. Difficult, because it’s hard to capture the “polyphony” of his rich, colorful life, with his extraordinary range of professional and private pursuits – and yet easy, because Günter Graulich is such an approachable and engaging person!

Heinrich Schütz: Musikalische Exequien

/in /by

A drama of faith in music, in the face of death, for Schütz composed by “dramatising” the text. All in all, these Exequien are a work of mourning and comfort – Baroque music which continues to speak to Meinrad Walter, professor of theology and liturgy at the Freiburg Musikhochschule, today in its emotion-laden urgency and its magnificent interpretation of the Bible.

J. S. Bach: St. John Passion 1725

/in /by

The St. John Passion was performed under Bach’s direction in Leipzig at least four times, but each time in a different form. And not all versions survive complete, so decisions need to be made for each performance nowadays. Increasingly the 1725 version with the opening chorus “O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß” is performed. The omission of “Herr, unser Herrscher” in this performance version is coupled with new discoveries. We hear the part of the evangelist as it was sung back then in Leipzig. In addition, highly dramatic arias such as “Himmel reiße, Welt erbebe” are heard to their best advantage.