Prolog GeWV 109

“There is no greater virtue befitting to Mankind than faith, which manifested, doth friendship firmly bind.” This verse was written by Simon Dach, the leader of the Könisberg circle of poets, during the Thirty Years’ War, and a little later was set to music by Heinrich Albert. The anxieties and tribulations of the period are reflected in the songs and make it particularly applicable to us as survivors of the strife and disorder of our own day. Thus, Harald Genzmer has adopted it as the cantus firmus of his Prologue for Orchestra, in which we are reminded of it throughout, in its original form, in inversion, fanfare introduction, funeral march, intermezzo and final allegro.