Dorfener Dreikönig-Singer: "You can feel the joy that we bring"

Created: 12/29/2022, 09:00

By: Michaele Heske

They are moving through Dorfen again: The Dreikönig singers (from left) Gottfried Empl, Hans Baumgartner, Martin Haider and Erich Griebl, here in the year before the pandemic.

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The Dorfener Dreikönig singers are on the road again.

So far, in 47 years, they have raised a good 460,000 euros for a good cause.

Dorfen

– Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar as well as the star pointing the way will soon be moving through all of Dorfen again.

In almost 50 years, the Dreikönig singers have earned a total of 460,619 euros - for which they received the city's social prize this year.

The route of the caravan is set: "If people know when we're on their street, then they stay at home and wait for us," is the experience of Hans Baumgartner, who is now, so to speak, the supreme king of the Dorfener Dreikönig singers.

He has been running since 1986 and has been organizing the three-day tour from January 6th to 8th for decades.

"20 C+M+B 23" - the singers of the Catholic parishes of Maria Dorfen and Oberdorfen will write this blessing on the doors again this year.

The abbreviation stands for the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" - in English "Christ bless this house".

"You can literally feel the joy that we bring," explains Baumgartner.

Of course, the Epiphany singers will ask whether they should sing outside or whether they can go into people's parlors.

Because everyone is still a little unsettled after the pandemic, and of course we will take that into account.

They will also visit the Marienstift and the facility for the disabled in Algasing.

The blessing is important, but the singing is even more important.

Traditional epiphany songs are performed, accompanied by guitar and flute.

And of course there will also be another original composition by church musician Ernst Bartmann.

For the time being, the group, which includes 120 singers, will remain one of the last male domains: "We are each two basses, two tenors - no other voices fit in there," says Baumgartner with a wink.

What began in the Advent season of 1975 with four fathers has become a traditional staple at the beginning of each new year over the decades.

"It took on dimensions that none of the original kings could have dreamed of at the time," says Baumgartner.

The Dreikönig-Sänger were founded by Hans Klopfer, Walter Heinisch, Josef Perzlmaier and Dieter Pfanzelt.

Incidentally, a unique Dorfen campaign: "We are not carol singers, but rather autonomous from the nationwide Kindermissionswerk in Aachen - that means we decide for ourselves where our donations go," explains the head of the department at the State Office for Finance in Munich.

The kings are ambassadors and fundraisers in one – they have raised a total of 460,619 euros over the past 47 years.

The donations flow among other things into the vocational training of underage mothers in Rwanda or go to the AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe.

This year also religious brothers of the city pastor Father Stephan in the Ukraine will be considered.

Baumgartner promises that the money will arrive 1:1: "We have personal contacts in the developing countries." Especially in these difficult times for everyone, the donations are of great importance, says the 57-year-old.

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The Dreikönig singers have recently also been represented on Instagram and Facebook.

"We had just gone online when we had the first friend request from Mayor Heinz Grundner," says Baumgartner happily.

You can also find out the route of the Dreikönig singers on social media.

Donation account: VR-Bank Taufkirchen-Dorfen, DE94 7016 9566 0006 4312 40, password: Donation Dreikönig