The school is not named after Rochus Dedler: he created the famous passion music

The non-party members would have liked to name the Oberammergau elementary and middle school after Rochus Dedler.

But the school family cannot identify with the composer who created the passion music.

The debate raises a question: do the Ammertaler even still know him?

Oberammergau

- Almost every Ammertaler has heard it up and down several times - the incidental music of the Passion. Most churchgoers should also be familiar with the Pollinger Mass, the German high mass in D. But the name Rochus Dedler bites off with some. You've heard the name somewhere. It has something to do with passion. But anyone who is not necessarily familiar with the composer's music has to ponder first. That is why the astonishment in the Oberammergau municipal council was quite great when the non-party voter community (PWG) dared to name the Oberammergau elementary and middle school after Dedler. Especially since next year will mark the 200th anniversary of his death.

Rochus Dedler (1779 to 1822) composed the incidental music for the Passion Play in 1810 (see box).

Its composition has been revised, changed and supplemented over the decades.

But at its core it is still the music that will also be heard at the Vow Game in 2022.

Ludwig Utschneider and his PWG parliamentary group would have liked to do Dedler the honor of naming the Oberammergau elementary and middle school after him.

With the application, the person Dedler should come to the fore again.

Which apparently is sorely needed, as was shown in the municipal council meeting.

Many young people can no longer do anything with the composer

Many, especially young people, can no longer do anything with the composer. "Not even all parents' councils were aware of the meaning of the name," said Maria Hochenleitner, BIO councilor and school director. Most of the 260 students between 6 and 15 years of age were not even born at the past Passion Play. "Only those who grew up in very musical families or who play Dedler's works themselves with an instrument can do something with the name." That is why the entire educational institution is not very suitable for the proposed renaming, as the reference is missing. “We are not a musical high school.” As an example, the rector cited the Christoph-Probst-Mittelschule in Murnau. The name says it all.The story of the Murnau Nazi resistance fighter the White Rose is literally lived in everyday school life. Not to be compared with Dedler in Oberammergau.

But Karl-Heinz Götz wanted to know from the non-party whether there were no more home lessons in Oberammergau where he was taught.

With the best of intentions, he could not imagine that the composer's name is known only to so few in Oberammergau.

"In the Passion Year," said Hochenleitner.

“In between less.” In any case, due to the pandemic, it is almost impossible in the few hours of face-to-face teaching to bring the students closer to Dedler as a person.

Parents' council and teachers also see no connection between school and Dedler

The parents' council and teachers also see the timing of the PWG application as unhappy in addition to the lack of reference. “We have very different needs right now,” said Hochenleitner. "In the tense situation, all capacities are tied up." There is neither time, money nor energy to work out an appropriate concept. "We didn't want to take a decision immediately," replied Utschneider. "The application was only intended as a basis for discussion." Especially since there is no time press, as the 200th anniversary of Dedler's death will not be celebrated until next year.

Indeed, the debate has resulted in a proposal. Markus Köpf, CSU councilor and school authority director, came up with the idea of ​​only naming the school auditorium after Dedler. This is also used by the music association, and rehearsals for the passion musicians also take place there. "The name would be very appropriate," said Köpf. A suggestion that Hochenleitner and Utschneider can also make friends with. The PWG application was rejected by a majority.