Erding - The Erdingen parish church of St. Johannes this week is all about the international organ week - a tradition since 1966, which is organized by the parish caecilienverein.
The organ week also took place in 2020, but without singing.
The festive prelude was the one-hour opening service on Saturday, which was musically framed by the large city choir. Even if the corona distance rules still apply in the rows of the audience, at least when looking at the altar, a familiar picture presented itself. The large choir of the parish church was finally allowed to perform again in its original constellation after a year and a half of the forced Corona break. And thanks to the 3G regulation, there are no masks, Plexiglas separating panes or an unharmonious-looking gap.
The joy of a performance after such a long time could be seen and heard in the choir members.
With a powerful voice they designed the mass with “Missa Princeps Pacis” by the English church musician Wiliam Llyod Webber from 1962. Magnificent melodies came into their own in the five individual pieces.
Organist Guido Krutscher was able to prove his own vocal talent in between.
A highlight was the performance of “A Hymn To The Virgin” by the British composer Benjamin Britten, which is designed for two choirs.
The large city choir split up in its midst and kept changing from the left to the right.
The closing song was Ave Maria by the American artist Morten Lauridsen.
The fact that the choir still masters its teamwork and nobody misses its commitment is also the performance of conductor Georg Rothenaicher, who is also responsible for the overall direction.
After the concert he was extremely satisfied with the performance of his singers.
The big city choir has only been rehearsing again since the end of June, and then only with half the cast.
Pastor Martin Garmaier, who organized the service, thanked the choir with its 50 members that it "held out steadfastly for almost two years".
He admitted he was afraid that some singers would leave the choir during the pandemic.
According to Rothenaicher, there was even an increase in personnel.
That makes him extremely happy.
The international organ week under the patronage of former Minister of State Hans Zehetmair will be continued tomorrow, Tuesday, with Bernhard Buttmann, church music director at Nuremberg's oldest main church, St. Sebald.
On Thursday the Frenchman Samuel Liégeon, titular organist at the Saint-Pierre de Chaillot church in Paris, will come to Erding since 2009.
Contemporary music will be presented on Saturday October 16 by the Italian professor of organ playing, Giorgio Parolini.
Start is always at 8 p.m.
The organ week ends on Sunday with the festival service at 9 am with the performance of the Erdinger chamber choir “Madrigalisti Ardingenses”.
There is no need to present 3G evidence at all events due to the distance allowed in the church.
MARKUS OSTERMAIER (mot)
