Friedensrufe

Seicento vocale is a young ensemble founded in 2016 that focuses on early baroque vocal music. Now the time has come: we are producing our first CD!
At the core of "Friedensrufe" are 20th century compositions which take us on a journey from the Thirty Years’ War to the two world wars.
Hold on, didn’t we just talk about having early baroque music as our “homebase”? Why the mix-up? Because, breaking down normality takes away the familiar ground from beneath us. It makes us let go, think differently. It brings change and connects us – ourselves and our environment. This is what our program is made of, and we commit ourselves to the demanding, infrequently performed pieces: The Melodram "Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke" by Viktor Ullmann (1898 – 1944) and the "Kantate von der Vergänglichkeit des Irdischen" by Ernst Krenek (1900 – 1991).
The texts have roots in the 1700s and vividly describe the cruelty of warfare; in connection with the expressive music, this becomes an intense audio experience. The recording will be undertaken as a live take of two concerts held on the 18th and 19th of November 2023 in the Paterskirche in Kempen. We envision it as our task to commit ourselves responsibly, humbly, and full of energy to the music and the inherent issue. We will create an interpretation of the pieces which allows our audience to listen, to be moved, and maybe also get a bit confused.

What are the goals and who is our target audience: it’s good that you’re here, and supporting our project if you…
…love that music is challenging you
…know that we have to confront ourselves with pain to find peace
…if you know you have to let music shake you up to create new order
…you trust us to work responsibly with a difficult topic

This is not for you if:
…you tend to turn your eyes away to protect yourself from emotions
…you expect us to only sing 17th century music because of our name
…you expect to leave the concert with an earworm

Producing a CD is a big challenge for an ensemble as well a milestone. It’s a snapshot of a moment in time, and a step into the public that goes further than concerts. We’re courageous and take on the challenge. We want to give you the opportunity to take Seicento home and wish that our interpretations of challenging and uncommon music will find even more enthusiasts.
In its intensity as well as its radicality, the program "Friedensrufe" we take on the responsibility that a musician holds in society. With our work we actively shape our cultural surroundings and add to a considerate, devoted and historically informed society.
If you share the opinion that art and culture carry these important tasks, then "Friedensrufe" is definitely worthy for you to support.
Through your donation you take part in recording music which is presenting the radicality and cruelty of warfare and as such serves as a warning in the current political situation in the world. The current program contains comfort and hope: two things that in our opinion, one cannot draw out so well from any medium other than music.

A project by a young independent ensemble with over 30 participants costs far more than just the sound engineer and artists’ fees. Accommodation and travel costs, licenses, funds for advertising, booklets and pressing plant are just some of the things that also need to be financed. It is important to Seicento vocale that everyone is paid fairly and can feel well during the rehearsal and concert phases, so that they can devote their full energy to the musical creation.
The money raised will be used to cover some of these costs. Financing such a large project is based on several elements, all consisting of strong contributing partners. Crowdfunding, your very personal contribution to "Friedensrufe", is one of these elements.