De profundis for alto and woodwinds (op. 5c, 1952)
Solo alto, 2 oboes (1 english horn), 2 bassoons.
Duration: 5 minutes
Helmtrude Kraft | Wind players of the Städtische Bühnen Freiburg | Franz Stemmer
Title: "De profundis" Aria for alto + woodwinds - Length: 14 pages - Date: 21. X. 1952 - Location: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Munich
Manuscript
De profundis clamavi ad te, domine, exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, domine, quis sustinebit?
Psalm 130; 1-3
From the depths I cry out to you, O Lord; hear, O Lord, my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry and supplication.
If you, Lord, would remember the sins - Lord, who would still stand?
Psalm 130; 1-3
Probably the boldest and most extreme example of this series of works was a "De profundis" for alto voice and woodwinds, which gets to the bottom of its powerful text with arioso vigour and exhausts it with uncompromising harshness. The première was entrusted to Helmtrude Kraft from the Städtische Bühnen (Freiburg), who fulfilled her difficult task with great sensitivity and musicality.
Bertold Hummel integrated this "De profundis" with the text "Unum corpus" almost in its original form into the oratorio "Der Schrein der Märtyrer" op. 90 (see: No. 23).