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World Premiere of Atsuhiko Gondai's The Last Alleluia

Feb. 08, 2018

World Premiere of Atsuhiko Gondai's <em>The Last Alleluia</em>

On February 17, Ryuta Nishikawa will conduct the world premiere of Atsuhiko Gondai's The Last Alleluia for mixed chorus and organ as part of a fascinating program that centers around the Gregorian chant sequence "Victimae Paschali Laudes." Presented by the concert series, "Towards The Future of the Organ IV," this program highlights the development of this haunting chant melody (generally considered one of the more masterful and influential creations to emerge from Gregorian chant) into the Lutheran chorale hymn, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" which is expressed in settings by Heinrich Scheidemann and J.S. Bach (including Bach's great Cantata 4, "Christ lag in Todesbanden"), and finally by Gondai himself. Organist and organizer of this concert, Naomi Matsui explains:

"The concert series 'Toward the Future of the Organ' explores how we in Japan, composers, performers, and audience...can create a new history and culture for this instrument--the organ--inside Japan. The theme of this year is an old song "Victimae Pascali." This song, which has been handed down from the Gregorian chant to Luther's chorale, is a universal song that transcends religious boundaries. I'm sure that Mr. Gondai will breathe new life into this melody, and that the newly born work will be performed again and again in future. I'm happy to take part in the world premiere."


In addition, Atsuhiko Gondai reflects on the theme of the concert and hopes that it "will be a bridge from Passion (sufferings) to Resurrection (recovery, rebirth or restoration)."

A number of Japanese ensembles will join forces to perform The Last Alleluia at the Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall including the Mixed Chorus Ku, the Female Chorus Akatsuki, Choeur Zephyr, and the Seikei Mixed Chorus.

Please enjoy Gondai's Falling Time to the End (2015) for orchestra here:


(Falling Time to the End/Atsuhiko Gondai/hr-Sinfonieorchester – Frankfurt Radio Symphony/
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor)


Atsuhiko Gondai
The Last Alleluia (2017)
for mixed chorus (SATB) and organ
20'

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