Luftlinien for Portative Organ

Michael Schultheis

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Solo

2024

22 min.

Organ

Program Notes: “Luftlinie” (or "as the crow flies") is the shortest connection between two geographical points. When playing an instrument, the connection between the instrument and the player is very important - the more direct, the more immediate, the greater the creative possibilities for the player. Portatives originally date back to the Middle Ages. They seem like a toy compared to the large church organs we are used to today, and yet they have a unique ability: the player himself controls the air flow when playing via the bellows, on which he can exert sensitive pressure and thus shape the volume, response and vibrato of the sound. As the range is only a good 2 octaves and the player can only play with one hand, the compositional challenge is to bring out as many facets of the instrument as possible: played melodically it can take on the penetrating character of an oboe, in chordal passages it pulsates like an accordion. The piece was commissioned by DKM Johannes Krutmann for his "Wolkenstayn" organ and consists of seven movements. The piece has a poem by the composer as its motto: Wär ich ein Vogel - geboren im Himmel - flöge ich ferner als Menschen erträumen. Ich aber - Mensch - mit den Füßen am Boden: fliege im Geiste zu himmlischen Räumen.
Ensemble Name: Michael Schultheis