In the attempt to make the unimaginable number of victims comprehensible, it became clear that it should never just be about numbers, but that it is important to give the individual victims a face again. Under the hands of Jochen Meyder, 10654 terracotta figures were created over the years, individually modelled, with individual faces. Once all the figures, all the victims, have been sculpted and laid out, visitors to the memorial are invited to take a figure home. In this way, they can take on a post hume sponsorship, and give a person a place of remembrance again.. Further installations and exhibitions are being realized.
The art project GRAFENECK 10654, inspired Thomas Fortmann to create a memorial concert for the victims.
During discussions with the composer and violinist Helmut Lipsky, the idea arose to trace musically the history of Grafeneck.
The music
The programme begins with a Renaissance introduction, an "Allemanda con Tripla" by Thomas Fortmann. This is followed by a composition by both authors on themes from the "Württemberg Sonatas by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach", which were dedicated to Duke Carl Eugen. Helmut Lipsky's piece "Überm Sternenzelt sicher wohnen" ("Dwelling Safely in a Starry Sky") deals with Schiller's Ode to Joy, and Thomas Fortmann's composition Grafeneck 1940, which deals with the incomprehensible events in Grafeneck, concludes the programme. All four pieces were written especially for this commemoration and require an unusual instrumentation: violin (plus electric Vl), piano and percussion.
Concert Program:
Thomas Fortmann
Introduzione Rinascimentale: Allemanda con Tripla
Württembergische Bacchate
Inspired by “Württembergischen Sonaten” no.6 (moderato) & no. 2 (adagio) by CPE Bach (1714-1788)
Helmut Lipsky
Boîte aux clochettes hantées -Bach-
Inspired by “Württembergische Sonaten” no, 6 (allegro) CPE Bach (1714-1788)
Above the stars They surely dwell
Reflection on the poem “Ode to Joy” by Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805)
and its musical adaptation by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Thomas Fortmann
Grafeneck 1940
Refers to the incomprehensible events at Castle Grafeneck in 1940
Musiker: Trio Grafeneck 10654
LOUISE BESSETTE, Klavier
HELMUT LIPSKY, Violine
OLIVIER MARANDA, Perkussionen
Videos of the entire cycle, featuring visual interpretations of the art project GRAFENECK 10654, will be shown during the concert.
Videos by Pia Loertscher in collaboration with Jochen Meyder
Grafeneck 10654
History
Grafeneck, for many years the hunting lodge and pleasure palace of Duke Carl-Eugen of Württemberg, was a place of culture in the 18th century where music, opera and ballet were cultivated. In 1928, the Samaritan Foundation took over the palace as a place for disabled people. In 1939, it was confiscated by the National Socialist state for "purposes of the Reich". From January 1940 until December of the same year, 10654 disabled and mentally ill people were murdered in one of the first gas chamber.
