MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� After six decades of devotion to the organ, Maestro Leo Kr盲mer treats the instrument like an extension of himself. He doesn't even need to lay hands on it to hear in his mind how a song will sound.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 called an organ,鈥� Kr盲mer said. 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 alive.鈥�
The 81-year-old German director and organist was the latest guest star of Mexico City鈥檚 Catholic cathedral, where he recently inaugurated a season of sacred music concerts.
Subsequent presentations will be announced social media channels. Throughout 2025, a diverse range of musicians, directors and choirs will play once a month. Kr盲mer is expected to come back for the closing concert in December.
鈥淥ur goal is to position the cathedral as a space in which we can praise God and convey the taste for good music,鈥� said Arturo Hern谩ndez, from the organizing committee of the music festival, during a recent press conference. 鈥淲ithin these walls, we can find marvelous works of art 鈥� paintings, sculptures 鈥� but musical expressions can sometimes go unnoticed.鈥�
Not for Kr盲mer, that is. In the 1980s, he performed a concert at the very same Cathedral and was beyond excited to make its two organs roar a second time.
鈥淓ach organ represents a nation鈥檚 culture,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t might be a single instrument, but it can be tremendously variable depending on its origin.鈥�
Back home, in Germany, the touchstone moment for organ music came with Johann Sebastian Bach during the Baroque period, he said. And in Mexico, where the Indigenous lands were conquered in 1521, organ music arose from the nation's Spanish heritage.
鈥淔or a European musician like myself, entering a magnificent space as this cathedral, having the opportunity to play and listen to these historical instruments, is just fascinating.鈥�
According to historian Kevin Valdez, the cathedral itself is special because it has two organs 鈥� one Mexican, one Spanish 鈥� and both survived a fire in 1967.
The wooden titans rest over the choir loft facing each other like 18th century twins. Their dimensions slightly differ with the Spanish one being the tallest, but together have more than 6,000 pipes capable of producing thousands of sound variations.
Since their construction, several composers have specifically written music to be played on the pair. And to this day, cathedral staff take care of its precious musical archive, which musicians worldwide, like Kr盲mer, revere.
Unlike violinists or trumpeters who bring their instruments with them, Kr盲mer encounters new organs as he changes venues.
Days before each concert, he climbs the stairs to the organ's bench and keyboards, getting to know the instrument by allowing his fingers to dance freely.
鈥淥nce I recognize the organ, what I acoustically feel with it, I choose the music I will play,鈥� Kr盲mer said. 鈥淚t all depends on the acoustic capacities of the instrument and the space.鈥�
His fascination with music came from childhood. In P眉ttlingen, where he was born, both his parents were amateur singers.
Before he left for school, as his mom prepared his lunch, he listened to her songs. Other days, while his dad took him to church to practice with the choir he was part of, Kr盲mer rejoiced.
鈥淢y earliest memories are not from when I learned to read or write,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y first memories are being in church, listening to music, feeling fascinated by the sound of the organs.鈥�
That was all it took. At age 11, he decided to become a musician and fill holy spaces with an organ鈥檚 voice.
It might seem a solitary job. Kr盲mer plays practically isolated, merely aided by two assistants who pull in and out the side knobs that determine the pipes鈥� sound. But he never feels too far from his listeners.
鈥淚 can absolutely feel the contact,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 energy. It鈥檚 connection. Music is like a street that you create between yourself and the public. It鈥檚 God鈥檚 gift for humankind.鈥�
During his latest concert at Mexico鈥檚 cathedral, Kr盲mer performed with both organs, pleasing the audience.
Saira de la Torre, a soprano who happened to be among the audience, said she felt overwhelmed by the opportunity to 鈥渨atch closely鈥� such an emotive musician and feel an instrument as majestic as the organ. 鈥淭he most moving moments were those of simplicity,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his touched my soul.鈥�
脫scar Ram铆rez, an architect, was impressed by how the organ filled the church. 鈥淭he sound dissipated through lots of places. You could feel one thing here, another one there,鈥� Ram铆rez said. 鈥淭his space alone could make music sound this way.鈥�
Kr盲mer鈥檚 repertoire included works by Bach, Italian composer Ignacio de Jerusalem and pieces from the cathedral鈥檚 archive, such as 鈥淢isa Ferial a 4鈥� by Spanish artist Hernando Franco. Kr盲mer also improvised, sound spilling out of his hands.
Ver贸nica Barrios sat quietly for a few minutes after Kr盲mer faded behind the choir.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 just come here to pray,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is music that brings us closer to God.鈥�
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Mar铆a Teresa Hern谩ndez, The Associated Press
