Thios Omilos: Music and Devotion

On its current disc, Ensemble Thios Omilos presents prayers from the midst of religious and everyday life – prayers of life. The five young men sing four- and five-part settings for men’s voices from the Romantic and modern periods. ""To pray means to throw one’s parcel onto God’s doorstep. "" Martin Luther, father of the Reformation, with this statement very vividly described the inner dynamics of what happens when humans pray – they give voice to their fears, sorrows, and hopes. Some prayers become lifelong companions. With the help of prayers, humans structure their days and years, giving them meaning. They have continued to do so at very different times and in very different places – for millennia. The language and aesthetics of many prayers have inspired music for almost as long. Throughout all periods, composers set prayers to music: the present disc features works by Gioachino Rossini, Peter Cornelius, Max Reger, Francis Poulenc, and others.

Ensemble Thios Omilos