Holy Poverty (from Momenti Francescani) (2016)

Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) — Holy Poverty (from Momenti Francescani) (2016) for organ

"Momenti Francescani" (15 Franciscan Moments) (2016) is a set of musical meditations for organ on scenes and stories from the life of St. Francis of Assisi (ca. 1181–1226) and his friends and early followers. Most of the stories and images are taken from the Fioretti di San Francesco (Little Flowers of St. Francis).

“After praying for some time with great devotion and many tears, the most holy Apostles Peter and Paul appeared to St. Francis in much splendor, and thus addressed him: ‘As thy prayer and thy wish is to observe that which Christ and his holy Apostles observed, the Lord Jesus sends us to thee, to tell thee that thy prayer has been heard, and that it is granted to thee and to all thy followers to possess the treasure of holy poverty.’” (Fioretti XIII)

German composer and organist Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) studied composition, theory, and organ in his native Hamburg. In 1971 he was appointed organist of the St. Francis Church in Hamburg and in 2000 at the church of St. Joseph-Wandsbek. In addition, he has been keyboardist for several jazz and rock ensembles. Willscher has received many awards and commissions for his compositions, which range widely in form: from symphonic music and oratorios to cabaret and rock scores. His organ works are very diverse, ranging from large-scale post-tonal pieces to some that blend elements of the traditional repertoire with contemporary jazz and pop influences. In addition to his own composition and performing activities, Willscher has published a number of literary and scientific articles in journals and encyclopedias and has been very active in collecting and preserving lost and forgotten music from earlier eras. In 2015, in honor of his 60th birthday and life’s work as a musician, he was awarded the Johann Wenzel Stamitz Prize from the Arts Guild of Esslingen.

Published by Dr. J. Butz Musikverlag (butz-verlag.de)