Jochen Klepper's life was deeply affected by the Nazi regime; he lost his professional support and was discharged from the military as 'unfit for service' because his wife, Hanni Stein, was Jewish.
Composition History
Jochen Klepper's spiritual poems, many of which were set to music and sung during the Third Reich, were created between 1935 and 1941.
Cultural Impact
Ulrich Wilckens, a professor of New Testament and former bishop of Lübeck, considers Jochen Klepper's spiritual songs to be among the greatest in the Protestant church's tradition, comparable to those of Martin Luther and Paul Gerhardt.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Jochen Klepper considered his biblical word a great inspiration for his art, aiming to narrate everything as if it were alive.
Composer Biography
Jochen Klepper, born in 1903 in Beuthen an der Oder, initially studied theology but chose to pursue a career as a writer.
Historical Context
Jochen Klepper, his Jewish wife Hanni Stein, and her daughter Renate Stein died together on December 11, 1942, a desperate act they viewed as fleeing to God rather than from Him.
Recording & Production
The album features choir recordings with a soloist ensemble, conducted by Gerhard Schnitter.
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