Hope

For some time now, I have had plans with my librettist Winfried Böhm to extend our oratorios Augustinus and Der Sohn des Zimmermanns to form a trilogy. The new work was envisaged as a composition entitled Myriam for violin and mixed choir. While involved in preparations for the work, I saw two sculptures by the artist Antje Tesche-Mentzen entitled Hoffnung [Hope]. One of the sculptures contained engraved texts from a variety of sources. A text by Laotse on the subject of motherhood immediately triggered music in my head, while spiral symbols carved into the other sculpture suggested organic ascending pitches. For me, the concept of hope is more relevant today than ever before: each individual is on the search for the hope required to lead a meaningful life. Wilfried Hiller