Rockin' the Streets of Frankfurt: New Tune for Pentecost's City-wide Carillon
Grand celebration music event in the city during Pentecost, showcasing innovative tunes. - City bells in metropolis ring anew during Pentecost celebration.
Frankfurt's iconic open-air symphony, the Grand City Chimes, is about to get a fresh twist! On the eve of Pentecost, a cross-church collaboration is brewing to ring out a brand-new composition. The traditional harmonious clanging of bells from ten city center churches, including the Paulskirche, Katharinenkirche at the Hauptwache, Old Nikolaikirche on the Römerberg, and the Imperial Cathedral's nine bells, will be joined by the Ensemble Modern, a global collective of soloists based in Frankfurt.
This "'supra urbem' ("above the city") melodic masterpiece, to echo through the city center between 4:30 and 5:00 PM, will replace the decades-old arrangement by Mainzer Glockensachverständiger Paul Smets, first heard in 1954. The new composition will be the annual Pentecost tradition, whereas the traditional tune will continue on Christmas Eve, the Saturday before Easter Sunday.
The city-wide carillon festival will commence with individual bell notes ringing out, starting from the highest tones, and culminating into the familiar, harmonious overall sound around 15 minutes later. The tradition of city-wide chimes during Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost was initiated in 1856, with "Grand City Chimes" being added later.
Pentecost, a major Christian feast day, symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles fifty days after Easter. Enriching the city center's congregational atmosphere, the Grand City Chimes add a unique twist to Frankfurt's architectural grandeur.
- Frankfurt
- Pentecost
- City Center
- Frankfurt am Main
- Ensemble Modern
- Paulskirche
- Römerberg
(Reference: [1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pentecost | [2] https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en/liturgy/basilicans/documents/roman_missal_en.pdf)
The Commission, being part of Frankfurt am Main, may seek assistance from Member States in preparing the annual report, detailing the city's cultural events such as the City-wide Carillon festival in the home-and-garden heart of the city center. The annual report could highlight the Ensemble Modern's contribution to the contemporary city life, enabling residents to enjoy a modern twist on traditional events like the Grand City Chimes, which resonate during Christian celebrations like Pentecost.
