Hello, dear guest of the small Prussian town — the abode of Lutheran churches. Here I will talk about the main plans in this setting.
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Q: Where did the idea of the Brandenburg chronicle come from?
A: From the desire to analyze the music and text of Church cantatas (works for vocal, chorus and chamber orchestra) by J. S. Bach. I've dealt with music as an art form for a long time, as a pianist, and I respect polyphony with religious symbolism and avant-garde in particular. On the basis of the first, actually, the idea was raised, it made me imagine a few scenes, and away we go.
Q: What is the main idea?
A: I haven't thought through the main plot yet, but the whole chronicle is based on one thing — the perception of the world. It is home to characters with different opinions, which result in them having relationships or conflicts. For example, tenor Richard represents clerics-conservatives of the middle class back then. And so on. Yet, the emphasis is placed on the German Lutheran Church (Kirche), and the analysis of this denomination through the prism of the cantatas. The protagonist, who is watching what is happening in the city — the pastor of the Church Immanuel Kappel, the same chronicler, describing each memorable day with one of the sacred texts.
By the way, if you want to listen and read the movements, the list of cantatas of the composer can be found on the links below.
The texts, translated into English
Concert recordings, conductor N. Harnoncourt
Q: What is the period covered in the chronicle?
A: XIX century, specifically from 1851 to 1878. Events such as the "Spring of peoples", the reign of Otto von Bismarck, the creation of the Triple Alliance are included in the chronology; in other countries it is the Crimean war, the abolition of serfdom, Risorgimento. Biographies of some characters begin as early as in 1823, but because they represent side roles and events, they are not included in the main period. I can call the 1866 year the key point, the beginning of the unification of Germany.
Q: Is This a historically accurate universe? There's Prussia, Bach, Bismarck, other elements of real history.
A: For the most part, yes. The basis of the chronicle is connected with the real history, in the majority of Prussia/Germany, and in the whole European world. Sometimes even Asia is involved. However, the storylines, relationships, and characters themselves never really existed. Author's additive, so to speak. I decided that the toponym "Brandenburg" will refer to the whole Kingdom, and the town will be simply called N*, as putting fictional stuff around an existing location would look inaccurate and confusing.
Briefly: the Church of St. Gotthardt's prototype building is quite a real place, but the idea that four specific churchmen once sang cantatas there is a fictional detail for the setting. Like a story, inscribed in history.
Q: Where can I learn about the characters themselves?
A: Actually, in this blog. With each post I try to develop them more clearly and build scenes around them. Also I'm adding tags on all posts. Smaller and more detailed information, such as pieces of scenes in a few years or trivia, will appear in pages, like this one.
Q: What will be the final product?
A: I can't say yet. I think about something like a simple language picture book or comic book. Perhaps, if I have enough strength and motivation, I will add fragments with music, this is after all the core of the chronicle, then I will take the format of a PMV or a visual novel. When I finish the whole setting, I'll update the page.
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That's it. If you have any questions on the topic, I will be happy to answer them and expand the list. Come, dear guest, into the open gate.
Willkommen in Brandenburg!
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