Impressionen vom Rhein, Op. 116/2 (2022)

Markus Frank Hollingshaus (b. 1974) — Impressionen vom Rhein, Op. 116/2 (2022) for organ

0:00 | 1. Alpen
4:01 | 2. Gold
8:05 | 3. Burgen und Kirchen
11:35 | 4. Von Land zu Land

“Impressionen vom Rhein” (Impressions from the Rhein), Op. 116/2 (2022) is a series of musical impressions related to the famous European Rhine river. “Alpen” (Alps) celebrates the mountain range in majestic music. The middle section is a setting of the late romantic hymn “La sera sper il lag.” “Gold” begins with a quote from Richard Wagner’s opera “Das Rheingold” and continues with the songs “Es liegt eine Krone im grünen Rhein, gezaubert von Gold und Edelstein” and “Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten.” “Burgen and Kirchen” (Castles and Churches) begins and ends with Martin Luther’s “Ein feste Burg.” The middle section is based on the 19th century song “Es stand auf hohen Bergen eine alte Burg am Rhein.” The final movement, “Von Land zu Land” (From Land to Land) is a quodlibet of the national anthems of the European nations that border the river: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Finally the coda is based on Beethoven and Schiller’s “Ode to Joy”, long used as an anthem of European unity.

German composer Markus Frank Hollingshaus (b. 1974) was born in Mainz/Rhein and grew up in Wiesbaden. He studied musicology, philosophy, and law at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. He wrote his doctoral dissertation (2005) on the organ works of Louis Vierne. Hollingshaus has worked professionally as a high school teacher of music, ethics, politics, and economics in several schools. He has also held various positions as organist and choirmaster throughout the Wiesbaden/Mainz region. As a composer, Hollingshaus has written two symphonies, a number of large-scale choral works, and many pieces of chamber and solo music.

Published by Dr. J. Butz Musikverlag in “Kleine Orgel — Große Vielfalt”