Peace concert in Delmenhorst: Music for a better world

Peace concert in Delmenhorst: Music for a better world

Delmenhorst, Deutschland - On June 7, 2025, a moving “peace concert” took place in Delmenhorst, organized by the choir Teutonia in cooperation with the home club and the town church community. The program included a variety of musical and literary contributions that were dedicated to peace and hope. Among the works listed were pieces by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and Siegfried Fietz, which underlined the importance of peace in difficult times. Bonhoeffer's “Peace speech” and Mendelssohn's “Giving us Frieden” formed the heart of the concert, while some of those present questioned the political effectiveness of such events.

The conductor Stefanie Golisch managed to create a harmonious choir sound, especially in Amy Beach "Peace I Leave with you". Nevertheless, the handling of more complex songs such as Reinhard Mey's "above the clouds" was perceived as challenging. As part of the concert, a poem by the author Eva Rechlin was presented by Irma Hübner, which addressed skepticism about the effectiveness of peace appeals.

musical diversity and literary contributions

The concert offered a varied program: Luna Burkert shone with her flute, while she played parts from Schubert's "dry flowers". Anna Awzan accompanied the performances on the piano and also played Mozart's slow Adagio from the piano sonata F major KV 332. Teutonia performed the song "Standing up" by Purple Schulz, which brought a glimmer of hope to the event that also "prayer for peace" by Lena Stein-Schneider and "Friedensgebitte" by Sabine Heruth Wars addressed. The evening was completed with great applause and an addition of "Give us peace".

The literary sprinkles of Laotse, Erich Klausener, Josef Reding and Martin Luther King rounded off the program. Dietrich Bonhoeffer himself, a well-known Protestant theologian, was a central figure in Christian resistance to the Nazi regime and was executed by the Nazis on April 9, 1945, shortly before the end of the Second World War. His writings, such as "The Cost of Discipleship", still have an impact on Christian theology, especially with regard to justice and peace. Klaus von Dohnanyi, the nephew of Bonhoeffer, recently remembered that Bonhoeffer was very important to the idea of ​​peace and expressed the desire that more people should understand his message, especially in times when conflicts are often resolved by violence.

a legacy of peace

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was not only a theological head, but also a person who lived in everyday life and embodied real faith. He vehemently advocated the Nazification of the Church and worked on spreading the message of peace. His commitment led him back to Germany after he fled the United States in 1939 - a step that he understood as a duty to his people. This remains an urgent legacy that is kept alive in concerts such as that of Teutonia.

The challenges of the present make it clear how important it is to continue to carry Bonhoeffer's message from peace and humanity. Even if the concert in Delmenhorst had regional dimensions, it reflects universal desires for peace in a time that is often shaped by conflicts. For many of those present, it was more than just a musical event - it was an urgent peace appeal.