On 8 November 1996, the premiere of *Musikalischer Kettenbrief* took place during the evening concert series at the parish church on Mariahilferplatz in Graz; the work was commissioned at the suggestion of the organist Herbert Bolterauer (*1964*) and the composer Thomas Daniel Schlee (*1957).
The following composers wrote pieces based on a 10-bar theme:
Peter Michael Hamel: Title music
Joseph Reveyron: Adagio
Bertold Hummel: Fantasy
Jean-Pierre Leguay: “Sur un thème d’Alexander Schrei”
Sylvaine Martin-Kostajnsek: Graz Chain Letter
Thomas Daniel Schlee: Voile
Pierre Cogen: Cortège
Theo Brandmüller: "Ex oriente lux"
Petr Eben: Momento d'orgao
These works are also included in the organ volume "Enluminures", published by Editions Combre.

Foreword ( Editions Combre)

At the suggestion of Herbert Bolterauer, organist at Mariahilf Church in Graz (Styria, Austria), nine composers have written short pieces on a theme by Alexander Schrei.

In keeping with the title of this collaborative work (Enluminures – the art of illumination), the composers have, through the diversity of their styles, ‘illuminated’ various aspects of the theme, so to speak, interpreting them through colour. Enluminures thus reflects, in numerous shades of colour, the richness of the tonal possibilities of organ music in the second half of the 20th century.

The work was premiered on 8 November 1996 in Graz-Mariahilf.

Thomas Daniel Schlee