Volume 7 of the Kaleidoskop series offers arrangements of songs that are frequently sung at certain stages of the church service.
The order of the selected songs follows the classification in the Protestant hymnal. As a result, songs for the beginning and end are presented first, followed by a song of faith that is often used as a sung creed (creed song). This is followed by a well-known communion song. EG 409 /
GL 464 is another hymn that often serves as a hymn of faith. The collection concludes with a newer hymn of blessing that has found its way into many recent collections.
The respective position and function of these hymns in worship and the resulting use of these hymns allow for a more flexible approach to the principles of this series than was the case in the previously published booklets. Particularly with regard to the chorale preludes, two preludes of approximately equal length and equal value despite different degrees of difficulty are therefore offered less frequently. Instead, on the one hand, there are increasingly only intonations or short elements from the preludes that can be used as intonations in order to get the congregation singing quickly. On the other hand, the songs also provide an opportunity for longer pre- or post-service preludes or meditations, which can be used as interludes (e.g., after a reading or sermon) or sub communione.
Therefore, this volume contains more extensive and detailed arrangements than the preludes and postludes in the volumes published to date.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the authors of the contributions and the owners of ortus musikverlag for their support of this edition project and their excellent cooperation.
Berlin, June 2025,
Prof. Dr. Gunter Kennel, Regional Church Music Director
