The Gefangnisgedichte Song cycle is a setting of the Prison Poems of Fr Max Josef Metzger who was martyred for his beliefs and ministry in a Brandenburg Prison on April 17th 1944. The poems were written over several imprisonments of Fr Metzger experienced during the time he was establishing his Una Sancta Brotherhood. The aim of this ministry was to encourage Christian Unity between Catholics and Lutherans in Germany. His cause for canonisation was submitted to the Vatican in 2014. The Song Cycle was given its World Premiere on November 3rd at St Wolfgang's Catholic Church in Meitingen,Germany  and was performed by the Una Sancta Choir, an ecumenical Choir drawn from local Churches and community groups. Soloists were Udo Scheuerpflug and Helene Lindqvist.
The Song Cycle was subsequently given its American Premiere by the Taylor Festival Choir conducted by Rob Taylor with soloist Bates O'Neal at the Lutheran Church of St Matthew's in Charleston on February 2nd 2020. Following the concert 133 bells were rung from the steeple to celebrate the 133th birthday of Metzger in Shopfheim on April 3 1887.
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Fr Joseph Tedesco Superior at Mepkin Trappist Monastery has invited the Taylor Festival Choir to give a repeat performance at the Monastery on Memorial Day 25 May