2017 sees the 500th anniversary of the German Reformation, a movement that shaped European history. When Martin Luther published his 95 Theses on 31st October 1517, he provoked a debate not only on indulgences but on fundamental theological and political issues which resonated in the different reform movements, whether in Germany or Britain. The huge impact of his act was arguably helped by three factors of innovation: translating, printing, and singing.
The events which have been put in place for the Bonn Week by the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages and coordinated by Professor Henrike Lähnemann reflect these factors:
Translating: Thursday 25th May, 4-5.30pm: Launch of the ‘Reformation Pamphlet Series’ in Room 2 of the Taylorian Institute, with a public reading of the full ‘Sendbrief vom Dolmetschen’ in German, with a new English translation in the first number of the pamphlet series freely available for participants; exhibition of Reformation pamphlets in the Voltaire room
Printing: Friday 26th May, 11am-4pm: Print your own Theses at the Bodleian Print Workshop. The doors will be open and visitors can print for free their own copy, plus typeset their name for a letter of indulgence The print workshop is in the Schola Musicae, Old Schools Quad of the Bodleian Library
Singing: Saturday 27th May, 2-4:30pm: Bach cantata ‘Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild’ written for the Reformation Day in 1725 in St Columba’s United Reformed Church (Alfred Street)
2pm Musico-theological introduction to the cantata
3pm Tea break
3:15pm Performance of the cantata twice, with a reflective interlude between the performances and everybody joining in the hymn ‚Nun danket alle Gott‘ (Now thank we all our God)
More information on Reformation related events organised in Oxford throughout 2017 can be found under https://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/taylor-reformation/events/
Further events related to the Faculty during #BonnWeek2017
Oxford German Network: Saturday 27th May, 2pm Broad Street Bonn Link Gazebo
German To Go - Language Taster, brought to you by Corinna Joerres (Bonn Lektorin in Oxford University’s Department of German)
The Oxford German Play: Arthur Schnitzler: Reigen, Burton Taylor Theatre, Tuesday 23rd - Saturday 27th May
https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-oxford-german-play-reigen/5920