Since his earliest childhood, Christoph Schönherr has been fascinated by all things nautical. His cycle Von Schiffen, Meer und Wind (Of Ships, Sea and Wind) brings together verses by different poets that explore the sea in its various guises. The work's selected poems describe the vast ocean that can fill us with a deep sense of tranquility, but can also bring mortal danger with its storms and destructive waves. Boats, and especially sailing ships, are often associated with freedom, a sense of weightlessness, and security. But if we are caught in a storm at sea, we suddenly find ourselves at the mercy of nature. We are made painfully aware of our own insignificance in the greater scheme of things.

According to the composer and passionate sailor: “In the five choral songs I attempt to characterize the atmosphere of the texts and the emotions they contain. My experiences at sea, for example in storms or when simply contemplating the motionless water, guided me in my search for a suitable means of musical expression.”