Eins (One or United) is an oratorio written on a commission from the Ökumenischer Kirchentag 2021 in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, the third ecumenical convention of lay Christians of different denominations in Germany.[1] The text was written jointly by the Protestant pastor Eugen Eckert and the Catholic Franciscan Helmut Schlegel.[2] The music of many genres was composed by Peter Reulein for the more traditional parts and by Bernhard Kießig for jazz and pop elements.[3] The work is subtitled Ökumenisches Oratorium in vier Bildern für Solisten, Chor, Orchester und Band (Ecumenical Oratorio in four scenes for soloists, choir, orchestra and band).[4]
The oratorio was published in 2021 by the Dehm Verlag.[4] The premiere, planned to be in a football arena with audience participation, had to happen without audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A film of a shortened version was produced as a livestream, and first presented on 14 May 2021 as part of the Kirchentag.[3][1]