Beginning with a powerful fanfare on the French Horn, and including an astonishing piece of virtuoso recorder playing by Julia Herzog on descant recorder, this improvised music came about as the musicians were invited to ‘let off steam’ after an intense recording session.
The Lord had a particular sound in mind He wanted to be heard, and this incredibly atmospheric and evocative music was the result.
This recording took place in Prenzlauer Berg, a district in Berlin that features a distinctive landmark in the shape of the water tower pictured here, which was used as a temporary concentration camp in 1933 to do away with Jews, Communists, Socialists and others deemed unacceptable under the new Nazi regime. As the horn blares out at the start, it seemed to us that we could hear the sound of the pain of those who suffered torture and incarceration there. We have therefore called it Wasserturm Lager (Water Tower Camp).
It is an astoundingly powerful piece of music. May the Lord lead you in prayer as you listen. For sure, the spirit of prayer is likely to come more deeply on you as you listen to it more than once.
It is played here, with astonishing musicianship, by Peter Richards (French Horn), Thomas Herzog (oboe), Susanna Herzog (violin) and Julia Herzog (recorder).