"Mark Scheibe, a student and composer from Bremen, reworks the German national anthem, emphasizing unity over division"
A fresh take on the German national anthem, "Deutschlandlied," has been unveiled in the form of a revised version, created by children and young people from two schools in Bremen. The new interpretation, which emphasizes equality and the potential for happiness for every human being, will be premiered at the 27th Melodie des Lebens of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen on November 21st and 22nd.
The revised anthem, featuring a modernized text and adapted sound, is a collaborative effort aimed at reshaping the anthem's meaning and inspiration by involving youth in its reinterpretation. Notable solo oboist of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Albrecht Mayer, lends his talent to the project, making a guest appearance in the accompanying video for the revised anthem.
Mark Scheibe, a composer from Bremen, was the driving force behind this youth-led revision, having initiated the project before a call from former Federal President Christian Wulff for the national anthem to be sung in German schools. The revised anthem is a reflection of the reality, dreams, and hopes of children and young people, and it was inspired by the unity displayed by the German national football team during the European Football Championship.
The premiere event will see Mark Scheibe and students from the participating schools take centre stage. The German national anthem with the new text will be performed live by the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. For more information about Melodie des Lebens, please visit www.kammerphilharmonie.com.
The traditional German national anthem, written in 1841, uses music composed by Joseph Haydn in 1796. The official anthem since the post-war period consists solely of the third stanza, which begins with "Unity, justice, and freedom," reflecting democratic values. Given this, the involvement of children and young people in revising the anthem likely aims to reinforce these democratic ideals or to bring new perspectives relevant to contemporary Germany.
Words like 'fatherland' and 'pledge' have been replaced in the new version, as they were considered outdated. The revised anthem is intended to reflect the spirit of unity and the aspirations of the younger generation, embodying a world-embracing attitude, as encapsulated by Albrecht Mayer's words: "One does not grow at one's borders, but at freedom."
This revised version of the German national anthem, a collaboration between youth and Mark Scheibe, brings a fresh approach to music, education-and-self-development, and entertainment, with the aim of reshaping the anthem's meaning and reinforcing democratic ideals. The new anthem, inspired by the unity displayed during the European Football Championship, embodies a lifestyle that values unity, equality, and freedom, as encapsulated by Albrecht Mayer's words, "One does not grow at one's borders, but at freedom."
