In March 2017, Peter Autschbach wrote the piece as a commission for the Industrial Union IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie (IG BCE). Its chairman, Michael Vassiliadis, a participant in one of Autschbach's Tuscany workshops, was enthusiastic and commissioned the composer and lyricist to arrange the song for a large ensemble, produce a CD, and select the musicians for two live performances at the congress.
Peter Autschbach chose his band Terminal A, featuring Marco Bussi on drums, Nico Deppisch on bass, and Klaus Tenner on piano, along with singers Samira Saygili and Sabine Kühlich, the powerful voices of the Ruhrkohle Choir from Herten, and the Krupp-Kids children's choir from Duisburg. A classical string quartet (Marta Danilkovich, vocals, Vladimir Bodunov, vocals, Stefan Balazsovics, vocals, and Victor Plumettaz, cello) and Ralph Herrnkind's acoustic guitar completed the ensemble. Autschbach himself played the electric guitar and also conducted the orchestra.
The premiere took place on October 8.10th in Hanover at the IG BCE congress. It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved. All participants were forbidden to talk about it beforehand because the song production was supposed to be a surprise for all the delegates. The 1200 congress attendees expressed their gratitude with a standing ovation, and the thunderous applause seemed endless.
1. We are democracy
2. We are democracy (unplugged version)
3. We are Democracy (Radio Short Mix)
