Heller, Barbara: Choral

for Elke Mascha Blankenburg

Barbara Heller dedicated this chorale to the memory of Elke Mascha Blankenburg (1943–2013). Talking about her before the first performance, the composer said: ‘She was open-hearted with a really tender soul, very trusting. Her creativity knew no limits; she was also an almost fanatical campaigner for music by women. In the music you will hear now I have attempted to convey some aspects of her personality: charming, loving, obstinate, committed, volatile, tragic, crazy, untamed, tender and anguished.’ The various sections of this chorale may be performed in a correspondingly contrasting manner: searching, hesitant, visionary, focused, volatile, accusatory, hopeful, etc., with use of rubato and powerful contrasts in dynamic and tone quality. The registration for this edition was devised in the Church of the Resurrection in Fürth. It is a model that may be adapted freely for other organs, perhaps substituting new and different sound features. Also available for clarinet and organ (KLB 99)