… Sondern nach dem Geist

Sami Seif

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2024

4 min.

Piano

Program Notes: … Sondern nach dem Geist is inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach’s BWV 227 motet “Jesu, meine Freude”, specifically, the end of its second movement. This was the very first of Bach’s Chorales that I discovered when I was first exposed to Western Classical music. I was about thirteen or fourteen at the time. The passage is a rephrasing of Romans 8:1 from the Bible: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” To me, this quote is reminiscent of Matthew 26:41: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” When the phrase “sondern nach dem Geist” is taken in isolation, its translation is closer to “separate according to the soul”—hence, my title recontextualizes this phrase. … Sondern nach dem Geist is dedicated to Jonas Aumiller. I am very grateful for his friendship and inspiration, as well as for premiering the piece.
Recording Notes: Performed by Jonas Aumiller, Kulas Hall, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH April 29 2024
Record Label: NA
Ensemble Name: Jonas Aumiller