face to face (2024)
(for five voices)

My new work for the CALMUS Ensemble was commissioned for their 25th anniversary and continues a very intensive and successful collaboration following my composition ‘And why?’. Since its premiere, ‘And why?’ has had over 100 performances worldwide on several continents, so I was very familiar with the qualities of the ensemble.

The text is based on the Song of Songs from the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians by Paul of Tarsus and deals with the theme of love for one's neighbour, a very topical and timeless theme in the history of mankind.

Compositionally, a main theme (face to face) returns again and again in a rondo-like manner and, with its tonal material, also forms the basis for constantly varying sound structures.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 

Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 

For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. 

So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.