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Music as prayer: Vespers bring silence back to Unterstein!
On August 3, 2025, Manfred Weber spoke in Schönau about the importance of prayer and the influence of vesper music.
Music as prayer: Vespers bring silence back to Unterstein!
In Unterstein, a small town in Berchtesgadener Land, a special musical event recently took place that moved those present. Manfred Weber, the administrative manager of the local parish association, opened the event with an introductory speech. He remembered a vespers from his youth in which a simple chorale led him from inner unrest to a feeling of touch and peace. This experience made clear to him the deeper meaning of prayer: It's not just about talking to God, but also about listening and being touched, which he conveyed impressively, like Berchtesgadener Anzeiger reported.
The musical component of this event reflected the traditional structure of Vespers, which includes both spoken and sung portions. The sung elements included antiphons, psalms and the Magnificat, while the spoken reading was supplemented by a homily. Gregorian chant, often used at vespers, is considered one of the oldest musical forms in Christian liturgy, named after Pope Gregory I in the 6th century. However, the earliest notation of these songs dates back to the 10th century. As can be found on Cathedral Music Trust, Gregorian chant in its simplest form is performed unaccompanied and in unison.
The Elements of Vespers
An essential part of Vespers is the Psalmody, which consists of several psalms introduced by antiphons. The psalms are sung in a special “psalm tone,” which forms the musical framework for the verses. This structure begins with a decorative melodic figure, followed by a recitation tone that guides the recitation of the lyrics. Although psalms are often performed in Gregorian chant, it is not uncommon for them to also be sung in Latin or English, making them easier to access for many.
Vespers offers not only an opportunity for musical devotion, but also for inner reflection and silence. Manfred Weber made it clear that making music and praying represents a form of communication with the transcendent that is often lost in everyday life. This connection between music and spirituality was the central theme of the event and was very well received by those present.
The event in Unterstein showed how important it is to maintain traditional forms of prayer and devotion and to continue to carry them into the community. Because as Weber impressively demonstrated, music can be understood as a prayer that elevates the spirit and touches the heart in a very special way.