The choirs in Erdinger Land finally want to sing again.
Making music and singing in public is only allowed in church, subject to strict rules.
After all, rehearsals on a small scale should be possible again from May 21st.
District - cultural life has been idle for over a year, the live music is silent with a few lockdown interruptions - a difficult time for those who work in culture and those who enjoy culture. The choirs have also fallen silent. Face-to-face rehearsals are not possible; making music and singing in public is only allowed in the church, subject to strict rules. A current ray of hope: From May 21st, small choir rehearsals should be possible again. How have the choirs in Erdinger Land mastered the difficult situation so far?
Since Easter 2020, church services have been broadcast live on the Internet from the Tadinger Church via the “Kirch dahoam” project.
“We rehearse specifically for every service,” says church musician Regina Maier.
On the organ, she accompanies the singers, who are screened from one another by roll-ups: “Everyone is there like in their shower cubicle.” You have to be very confident rhythmically and vocally, and find your own way of doing things, explains Maier.
In the beginning it was “a very big challenge”, but everyone was up to the task.
Choir director Regina Maier: "Hope that we can rehearse outside again soon and get started"
With soloists and a small instrumental ensemble, Maier creates “a music program that is as varied as possible” - including demanding pieces from the classical field, but also new sacred songs with a band.
“I try to include as many choir members as possible, but no more than ten people” - especially in the evening services or at funerals.
Maier leads a children's, a youth and the church choir.
They are connected via a WhatsApp group and hope “that we can rehearse outdoors and get started again soon”.
Even after the pandemic, the musician sees a lot of potential in the live stream and the use of new media and praises the young people's great initiative.
Choir director Konrad Huber: "We all long for a rehearsal together"
There are no spit protection walls in the parish church of St. Erhard Walpertskirchen.
There, choirmaster Konrad Huber reports: “The door to the tower is open.” The rules of distance would be observed in order to ensure that the Sunday church service music was played in small groups.
From a musical point of view, the distance is "the main drawback": the performers have to sing solo, although they can hardly hear each other - so "nothing for the typical choir singer".
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“Like in the shower cubicle”: In the Tadingen church, the singers are separated by roll-ups, as here at the service on this year's Easter Sunday.
© Screenshot: www.kirch-dahoam.de
Like his colleagues, Huber is relying on low numbers and outdoor concerts with regard to the pandemic.
Now it is important to overcome the dry spell.
Huber speaks of a “test of patience” and says: “We all long for a rehearsal together.” In order to bridge the gap, the musician, who also leads numerous choirs in the Forstern Singing Group, regularly realizes projects on his YouTube channel and creates for his choirs appearances via videos.
Huber also sees improvements in the indoor climate, regular ventilation and larger rehearsal rooms in order to be able to sing from a distance as an opportunity after Corona.
A process of “positive learning” has been set in motion.
However, the consequences of the lockdowns for art cannot be discussed away: "It was really hard for culture."
Choir director Franz Maier: "I have confidence that everything will come back"
Church musician Franz Maier reports that the gallery in Altenerdingen's church was equipped with spit protection walls.
On a small scale, he provides a church music program every Sunday.
Sometimes a few singers from the Altenerding choir took part, sometimes professionals like Ira Maria Scholz (soprano) and her husband Alexander (violin).
Maier himself plays the organ, his son Kilian the cello.
The few choir members who can be heard at the services are "very grateful that they can sing sometimes".
Maier maintains contact with the choir community itself via emails.
His hope: Soon with the choir work "to be able to build on what was" - not an easy path.
On the one hand, the fear of infection is very present in some members, on the other hand, the longing to sing together again is great.
“We miss it so much”, Maier often hears this sentence.
The regular rehearsals would be missed as a "structure in life".
"I have confidence that everything will come back and I hope that goals can be set."
Choir director Robert Grüner: "You have to build bridges during this time"
The Fraunberg choir "Taktvoll" with 22 singers was only founded in 2018 and is not a church choir. “So we have no way of singing anywhere,” says choirmaster Ute Auf dem Hövel. She hopes for a new beginning soon: “People scratch their hooves. Hopefully everyone will come then. "
This is the opinion of Robert Grüner, church musician from St. Vinzenz Klettham.
“People are hungry for music and the unifying element in music.” Grüner rehearses online with the Singkreis and youth choir, and the children's choir is regularly sent songs as an offer.
With the Sunday music in the church, Grüner refers to the social component “under the sign of faith” and says: “You have to build bridges during this time.” He also realizes this goal with special, technology-supported music projects.
The next one for Pentecost is in progress.
Vroni Vogel