Willkommen
FPC welcomes German men’s chorus Reine Männersache this fall
by Dr. David Dunbar
About 18 months ago, I received an unexpected email from a friend in Germany. He sings in a community men's chorus there, and the group was considering a tour of the United States. Naturally, I said, “Come to beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado!” They loved the idea, and long story short—they are coming to First Presbyterian Church!
I’m delighted to announce the upcoming tour of the Reine Männersache from Zellhausen, Germany. The name loosely translates as “Purely a Men’s Affair,” and the choir is about 30 men strong, singing in a wide variety of styles and genres. Members of the FPC Sanctuary Choir and Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers will host them while they are here, from Tuesday, October 6 to Wednesday, October 14. Their performances are listed below.
My connection with the Reine Männersache Zellhausen (RMSZ) goes back many years. My mother, Frieda, and her sister, Inge, were both born in Zellhausen, a small town approximately 25 minutes SE of Frankfurt, in the 1930s. My cousin, Günter, my aunt's son, sings in the chorus. When RMSZ toured Costa Rica many moons ago, Günter bought me a plane ticket so I could join them to sing on the tour! It was a wonderful experience, and RMSZ is like family to me. This is their first visit to America, and I am overjoyed to welcome them to our beautiful state and city and to introduce them to my family here—all of you at FPC!
The RMSZ tour will be a highlight of our fall concert series, and all of their appearances are free, so get them on your calendars today! You won't want to miss this wonderful cultural and musical exchange. It’s also a great opportunity to brush up on your German just in time for Oktoberfest. ;-) Tschüss!
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Concert: Prost Brewery in Northglenn, Friday, October 9, approx. 6:00 PM
Concert: First Presbyterian Church, Saturday, October 10, 7:00 PM
Service of Worship: First Presbyterian Church, Sunday, October 11, 10:00 AM
Concert: New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Sunday, October 11, approx. 6:00 PM
P.S. My cousin Gunter sent me an article that ran recently in the local German paper. The translation is below:
The choir “Reine Männersache” under the direction of Roman Zöller (left) will perform in the USA. | PHOTO: KORDULA EGENOLF
From Hessen to Colorado
The Zellhausen choir “Reine Männersache” travels to the USA
ZELLHAUSEN — “Reine Männersache” is going on tour. The community chorus's roughly 30 tenors and basses from Zellhausen are preparing for a major trip. On the other side of the Atlantic, they are eagerly awaited. The ensemble is preparing a special program before setting off on October 5th for the tour entitled “From Hessen to Colorado.” During a 10-day trip to the Rocky Mountain region, they will share in a musical exchange and, of course, perform in concerts under the direction of conductor Roman Zöller.
From Franz Schubert to Comedian Harmonists
Planning for the trip began about two years ago. “The fact that it is coming together,” explains Holger Wolf, chairman of the Liederkranz, “is due to a family connection within our own ranks. One of our members has a cousin there, David Dunbar, who directs two choirs.” A broadly diversified program featuring a cross-section of German choral literature was designed specifically for this event to offer insight into the tradition of German song. The choir will perform pieces by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Carl Orff, among others, as well as the Comedian Harmonists.
Choral culture is deeply rooted in Germany. The Goethe-Institut also provides financial support for this venture. This renowned institution sets strict criteria for financial support. The institute checks repertoire for quality, and singers must have a high level of vocal competence. Here, the choral community—formed in 2014 from singers of the Liederkranz and the Harmonie Gesangverein—has earned numerous first prizes at regional, national, and international competitions, such as in Somborn/Freigericht or Llangollen/Wales.
In the USA, the singers will join an ensemble that is not a pure men's choir but a mixed one. The number of choir members is roughly equal. “The main concert takes place at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins,” explains Holger Wolf, “since most choirs in the United States are formed within religious communities and are not organized into clubs/societies like ours.” A special highlight of the performance will be two songs composed specifically for this occasion by American composer and choir director David Dunbar, and rehearsed with the American choir. A workshop will also take place beforehand, which conductor Roman Zöller will co-lead as a musical history lesson. “Through words and song, a short outline of the history of German song from Romanticism to the 20th century will be presented,” he says. “Furthermore, I am personally looking forward to finally having an international exchange after COVID brought everything to a standstill.”
There will be plenty of opportunities for this, as the participants will not be staying in hotels, but with American choir members. A reciprocal visit may take place in 2028. [This refers to the Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers' planned tour to Germany in 2028]. In addition to other performances, the itinerary includes a concert at the Prost Brewing Company in Northglenn, featuring drinking songs similar to those penned by well-known composers such as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Friedrich Silcher, or Carl Orff. The 30 singers from Mainhausen can hardly wait to pack their bags to engage audiences against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Before their departure, the chorus invites everyone to a final performance/dress rehearsal at the concert, “Zusammenklang,” on Saturday, October 3. —KORDULA EGENOLF
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