Benedicte Domino

The Creation Psalm has always inspired and moved humanity. In the midst of our time, marked by environmental crises and threats to our living space, his message takes on a new urgency. It is a topic of timeless relevance, embedded in the current debate about environmental protection and sustainability.

For me personally, dealing with Creation Psalm 104 has been a long-standing concern. I tried several times to capture and interpret its meaning musically until the opportunity finally arose to realize this work as part of a church concert for the Capital of Culture 2024.

The topicality of the topic during the ecological crisis emphasizes the importance of not just looking at creation, but of making it tangible through art. What does creation mean in the Christian context and beyond? What images and ideas does this term convey? These questions are the starting point of my musical reflection.

The Creation Psalm 104 praises the belief in a creative God who creates the world in all its splendor and diversity. The psalmist uses the knowledge of his time to describe the wonders of nature and the greatness of the Creator. This perspective inspires me as a composer who has devoted himself primarily to music for the theater in recent years and always struggles with doubts. I view the text not only from a Christian perspective, but as a universal, poetic basis - a kind of libretto that strives towards truth but also explores its fragility.

The premiere of Benedicte Domino will be an artistic journey that celebrates the beauty of creation while reflecting on its vulnerability. It is an invitation to be touched by music and to think about how we can take responsibility as part of this world. May this performance be not only an aesthetic experience, but also a moment of reflection and commitment to the preservation of our precious creation.

Peter WesenAuer, 2024