Eins (oratorio)

Eins (One or United) is an oratorio written on a commission from the Ökumenischer Kirchentag 2021 in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, the third ecumenical convention of lay Christians of different denominations in Germany. The text was written jointly by the Protestant pastor Eugen Eckert and the Catholic Franciscan Helmut Schlegel. The music of many genres was composed by Peter Reulein for the more traditional parts and by Bernhard Kießig for jazz and pop elements. The work is subtitled Ökumenisches Oratorium in vier Bildern für Solisten, Chor, Orchester und Band (Ecumenical Oratorio in four scenes for soloists, choir, orchestra and band).

The oratorio was published in 2021 by the Dehm Verlag. The premiere, planned to be in a football arena with audience participation, had to happen without audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A film of a shortened version was produced as a livestream, and first presented on 14 May 2021 as part of the Kirchentag. <!--

History
The work was commissioned by the Referat Kirchenmusik im Bistum Limburg (RKM), the division of church music of the Diocese of Limburg, to celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary. The work was requested to include many different musical groups and styles, to represent the activities of the church musicians in the diocese, such as Gregorian chant, choral singing of children and adults, organ solo music, and Neues Geistliches Lied. The text was planned to contain writings by Pope Francis from his Apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium (2013) and his encyclical Laudato si' (2015), and the Magnificat in the traditional Latin. The librettist, the Franciscan Helmut Schlegel, introduced additional writings by Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi, and focused on mercy corresponding to the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. Peter Reulein was commissioned to compose the music. The oratorio was published in 2016 by the Dehm Verlag. The composer conducted the premiere in a concert at the Limburg Cathedral on 6 November 2016.

Structure
The work is structured in a prologue and five scenes:
 * Prologue: Erfüllt ist die Zeit (Time is fulfilled)
 * Scene 1: Die Schöpfung tanzt – die Schöpfung klagt (Creation dances – Creation mourns)
 * Scene 2: Gottes Neubeginn (God's new beginning)
 * Scene 3: Er gab dir Atem, gab dir Würde (He gave you breath, gave you dignity)
 * Scene 4: Das Leben feiert Aufstand (Life celebrates uproar)
 * Scene 5: Ein jeder Augenblick ist Anfang (Every moment is beginning)

Premiere and reception
In the premiere, the children's and youth choir was from Maria Rosenkranz, conducted by Karin Mayle-Polivka. The mixed choir combined four groups, two from the composer's Liebfrauen, Frankfurt, vocal ensemble and the youth choir Cappuccinis, and two from St. Martin, Idstein, Chor St. Martin and the youth choir Martinis. The Schola was formed by singers from groups in the diocese, conducted by Franz Fink, and sang from the organ loft at the back of the cathedral. often introduced and accompanied by the organ. The orchestra for the occasion was the ensemble colorito, and the cathedral organ was played by Johannes Schröder, the organist at the Westerwälder Dom. The soloists were sopranos Marina Herrmann (Mary) and Janina Moeller (Angel), mezzo-soprano Anna Metzen (Clare of Assisi), tenor André Khamasmie (Francis of Assisi) and baritone Johannes Hill (Pope Francis). More than 250 musical performers contributed to the premiere. -->