Work of the Week – Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Ich wandte mich und sah an alles Unrecht, das geschah unter der Sonne

By Christopher Peter
13 Apr 2025

Black-and-white portrait of Bernd Alois Zimmermann with glasses and folded arms, set against a purple background.

A cry against injustice: On April 16, 2025, Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s haunting orchestral work Ich wandte mich und sah an alles Unrecht, das geschah unter der Sonne ("I Turned and Saw All the Oppression That Was Done Under the Sun") will be performed for the first time in Slovenia. The concert takes place at Cankarjev dom, Slovenia’s largest cultural and event center, located in the heart of Ljubljana. The Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra performs under the baton of Sylvain Cambreling, with speakers Boris Ostan in Maks Dakskobler and Thomas Jesatko, bass-baritone.

A musical mirror of its time

Composed in 1970 shortly before Zimmermann’s death, this work is a reflection of trauma, despair, and a deep ethical concern. Drawing on the Book of Ecclesiastes, Zimmermann created a powerful sonic protest against violence and injustice. Chorales, marches, collages, cries, and citations from his earlier music come together to form a deeply affecting piece.

The spoken text features biblical excerpts and poetry by Paul Eluard and Ivan Goll – layered over a soundscape of existential dread.

Zimmermann’s unique voice

Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1918–1970) was one of Germany’s most important postwar composers. His music merges serialism, jazz, Gregorian chant, quotations, and political reflection. He coined the concept of the “spherical form of time,” in which past, present, and future coexist. His works are marked by a profound sense of artistic responsibility.

New complete edition underway

Starting in summer 2025, Schott Music will publish the first scholarly-critical complete edition of Zimmermann’s works. It is the first such edition for a composer whose main output came after 1945. The edition will include newly revised performance materials of this piece.

Have you experienced this work live?

What moved you most in Zimmermann’s composition? How did the combination of text and music affect you? Share your thoughts with us using the hashtag #WorkOfTheWeek – for example on our social media channels!