
Worship &
Prayer Service
Prayer Service
According to the old monastic tradition of the Cistercians the theological facultyof the Rostock University has resumed hourly prayers in the former convent “Zum Heiligen Kreuz”. Of the originally seven to eight liturgical prayers, which determined the daily routine of the convent with their strict 3-hourly rhythm, today the “Matutin” (matins/ morning prayer) and the “Komplet” (compline/ evening prayer) are sung. Carried out by the theology students this form of Gregorian chant is open to everyone who is interested.
During the Bachfest the matins and compline will be sung daily in liturgical robes.
After the ‘Apostelumgang’ of the astronomical clock (from 1472) a short midday payer is held daily at noon at the Marienkirche. Here the organ will sound. Meeting time for visiting the organ is 11.55 a.m.
The sounding of the Warnemünde church bells will be followed by the tower brass band performance at the Leuchtturm (light house) Warnemünde daily at 6.05 p.m. The combination shows the connection of worldly and church soundscapes which were also important to Bach. The light house at the beach promenade is a crowd-puller, that will bring together maritime architecture with Bach sounds.
At a day’s end, the choirmasters of Rostock invite everyone to a joint Evensong singing at several evenings of the Bachfest. A cappella or accompanied by the organ and piano, polyphonic movements, canons, and Taizé songs sung together give the opportunity to pause and settle down. The simple St.-Johannis-Kirche (St. John’s church) nestled in the Barnstorfer Wald park offers the perfect ambience for this purpose. The Evensong singing is open to everyone interested.
Worship
The mass with a sermon by Prof. Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm (Bishop of the Protestant-Lutheran church of Bavaria and chairman of the EKD council) will be muically accompanied by the Kurrende and the Choralchor of the St.-Johannis-Church Rostock under the musical director Prof. Markus J. Langer. Karl-Bernhardin Kropf will play the organ.
The cantata service will be directed by Sven Werner. The Mecklenburg Kammersolisten will accompany soloists as well as singers from the Kantorei Warnemünde
Benjamin Jäger will direct the Lutheran service. The Saxophone-Ensemble of the hmt Rostock will play. The Jakobichor of the Prostestant-Lutheran Inner City Parish will sing. Sermon by Prof. Thomas Klie.
Alexander Röder (senior pastor at St. Michaelis, Hamburg) will hold the sermon of the concluding service of the Bachfest. The musical contributions come from the Bläserkreis der Posaunenmission Hamburg-Schleswig-Holstein directed by Daniel Rauh.