Ave Crux, Spes Unica

Like most of his compositions, Rolf Rudin's Latin-language Ave Crux, Spes Unica (Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope) for mixed choir, percussion and organ was commissioned for a special event – in this case to mark the inauguration of the new Bishop of Würzburg, Dr. Friedhelm Hofmann. The dedicatees of the work composed in 2014 for four- to eight-part choir are the (former) Cathedral's director of music Martin Berger and the Choir of the Würzburg Cathedral, two musical institutions of the region, which allows conclusions to be drawn about the high artistic value of this composition. Even the initial musical expression marking 'Atmosphärisch bewegt' [Atmospherically emotional] points to the intense sensual tonal spheres in which the award-winning composer puts both singers and listeners in this c. 8-minute sacred work using words by Edith Stein.