World premiere: September 2002, Attnang-Puchheim, parish church
Sonja Korak, flute | Katrin Moser, clarinet | Réka Szilvay, violin | Alexander Gheorghiu, violin | Valentin Holub, viola | Justus Grimm, cello
Duration: 6 minutes
Publisher: Self-published
CD: Musicaphon M 55717

When I asked my father for advice in April 2002 regarding the title of a commissioned work for a music festival in Austria, he was very enthusiastic about my chosen title ‘Behind the Quietness’.
Of course, neither of us knew at the time that this title would affect us so deeply in August of the same year.

At his bedside, I was able to witness his “passing” first-hand, together with the family.

As painful as the process of “passing over” was, I was all the more grateful for the many hours spent together with my father. I was able to learn a great deal from him in every respect. Even at the time of saying goodbye.
After my father’s last breath, I was able to experience for a brief moment what “Behind the Quietness” might mean.

The silent work is based on soundscapes that are mostly associated with the Bach chorale. The conclusion leads into the Bach quotation “Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten”.

A chorale that always shaped his life:

Whoever lets the dear Lord rule and hopes in Him always,
He will wonderfully sustain him in all cross and sorrow.
Whoever trusts in God, the Most High, has not built upon sand.

Sing, pray and walk in God’s ways, do your duty faithfully,
and trust in heaven’s rich blessing, and it shall be renewed within you:
for He will not forsake those who place their trust in Him.

I, a poor man, I, a poor sinner, stand here before God’s face.
O God, O God, deal gently with me, and do not bring me to judgement.
Have mercy, have mercy, O God, my Merciful One. Have mercy on me!

Who knows how near my end is! Time passes, death approaches.
Oh, how swiftly and suddenly my hour of death may come.
My God, I pray through Christ’s blood: grant me a good end!

Stefan David Hummel