Der Sonnengesang des Franz von Assisi

'Sonnengesang' [Canticle of the Sun] is part of world literature and has had a decisive influence on Italian poetry. It is considered to be the 'lullaby of the Italian language'. The musical setting of the Canticle of the Sun is written in German. To conjure up the 'ancient' aura of the original, just a few words are quoted from the Old Italian. The musical setting of the Canticle of the Sun tries to capture the folkloristic style of the original. As a consequence, no choral techniques of the new music were to be used (although there sometimes are whispers or cluster chords). The piece was rather inspired by the sonority of Old Italian chants, as can still be heard in Sardinia and Corsica today, with long stationary chords and parallel voice leading. (Enjott Schneider)