Orte

In the Song-Cycle 'Orte' ('Places') Max Doehleman has set to music poems by several German-language writers, which concern specific places. The composer has been to these places himself and finds an especial or personal link to each one. From the perspective of retrospective reflection there emerges a musical language of feelings, filled with maturity and intensity. The cycle is dedicated to the baritone Georg Streuber, with whom the composer has worked many times over several years. The songs were created around the year 2015 and are in total some 25 minutes in duration. 

The cycle begins with the 'Mirabell Garden' in Salzburg. The poetic text that is used is 'Musik im Mirabell' by Georg Trakl. The expressionist poem with a touch of morbidity provides the basis for a colourful mixture of sounds with a rather demanding piano accompaniment. Number two in the cycle is an homage to the old cultural centre of Marienbad in what is now the Czech Republic. Goethe wrote there a famous lengthy poem 'Marienbilder Elegie', from which excerpts are set. This song is in memory of the actress Rosel Zech who passed away in 2011 and with whom Doehlemann was befriended. They visited Marienbad together. Number three concerns the 'Herreninsel' in the Chiemsee in Bavaria and the 'Märchenschloss' ('Fairy-Tale Castle') of King Ludwig II which is situated there. The poetic text from Günter Eich describes the especial atmosphere of this location in Autumn, the interplay of light and shade, the flying leaves and the melancholy of worldly transitoriness. Number four is focussed on Kleist's grave at Kleinen Wannsee in Berlin. The text used, 'Heinrich von Kleist' was written by Robert Gilbert. Also at this fourth location the composer finds a very personal and thoughtful means of expression.