Mark Ehlert has been a church musician in the Wolfratshauser Stadtpfarrkirche St. Andreas since 2015.
In an interview, he tells our employee Andrea Weber how he is experiencing the difficult Corona times.
Mark Ehlert studied church music and early music in Regensburg and Bremen.
Until 2011 he worked as a deanery church musician in Meschede in the Archdiocese of Paderborn.
The 47-year-old has performed as an organist and continou player with the “Musicalische Compagney Berlin” and the Tölzer Boys Choir at home and abroad.
From 2011 he headed the girls' choir at Munich Cathedral.
He has been a church musician in Wolfratshausen since 2015.
Mr. Ehlert, as an organist you always play upstairs on the gallery. You basically never get to see you. What is the job of a church musician?
Mark Ehlert:
I create the music for the church service.
Either I alone on the organ as a soloist, with the choir and / or together with instrumentalists.
Church music is worship.
Whether a prayer is said or sung, it is a different kind of proclamation.
I see my greatest task in making people happy.
Making people happy with music is difficult, especially in times of pandemics. Choir rehearsals are not allowed to take place since the lockdown, have they?
Mark Ehlert:
Right.
It's been over since November.
Before that, we were allowed to conduct choir rehearsals in the Church of St. Andrew with great effort, at least under the strictest hygiene requirements.
And what about the service?
Mark Ehlert:
At the first lockdown, we started recording the services and broadcasting them over the Internet.
But there are many older people who do not take advantage of the offer.
At Christmas we held three outdoor services on Marienplatz.
It was extraordinary.
We have to learn what can be done in such times.
You lead the church choir of St. Andreas. But choir rehearsals can currently no longer take place. What is the effect?
Mark Ehlert:
In the summer we were able to rehearse with registration, high responsibility and a long distance.
Now that nothing works, it is very important to me that the solidarity of our choir community does not break.
Can you go back to rehearsals immediately afterwards?
Mark Ehlert:
Counter question: When is after?
Many musicians no longer have the opportunity to perform. How are you all?
Mark Ehlert:
I have more work than before because the organizational aspects have tripled.
I have to create and print song notes because hymn books are not allowed to be given out.
Before the current lockdown, we held more services because fewer visitors are allowed.
But what I miss very much are the regular rehearsals with my choirs and personal contact.
There are days when the parish office has to remind me what day of the week it actually is.
Has the Corona period changed anything in church music?
Mark Ehlert:
Definitely.
A return to special music in small ensembles.
Usually 40 members sing in our church choir.
At Christmas we had a baroque mass with two violinists and a singer, a Mozart mass also with two violinists and four singers, and on Christmas Eve a modern piece with saxophone and organ.
At Heiligdreikönig I played an English mass from the 19th century on the organ, accompanied by four singers.
What lessons did you take with you from the crisis?
Mark Ehlert:
I hope we will be careful with each other.
We have learned that not everything can be taken for granted.
Our life can take a complete turn at any time.
We have recognized how important consolation and support are and that life is not just about partying and summer vacation.
In line
“How are you?” We ask people from the district how they experience the unusual Corona times.
