Germany and England Tour Travelogue Three
Dear Friends,
Just north of Augsburg, Germany lies the captivating suburb of Gersthofen. It was here, in the lovely church of St. Jakobus Major, with its nearly perfect acoustical environment, that the Georgia Boy Choir presented a concert to a full house of appreciative listeners on Monday evening. As the concert progressed, the audience became more and more enthusiastic with each song until finally, after the prepared program ended, they jumped to their feet and cried out for more. Their raucous, rhythmic clapping continued until the Choir obliged and sang “Georgia On My Mind” as an encore. Even then, the applause continued until well after the boys had left the stage. It was a most gratifying evening for performers and listeners alike.
After four straight days of concerts or services, the Choir had earned a rest, and Tuesday was, of course, the Fourth of July. So, after a restful night in the homes of their host families from the Augsburger Domsingknaben (the Augsburg Cathedral Boys Choir), the young Americans celebrated in style. Following a morning walking tour of the historic city of Augsburg, they enjoyed an afternoon in the water park, complete with several large pools with water slides and diving boards. It was exhausting and relaxing and fun. A few of the staff and chaperones even participated in their own Augsburg edition of the Peachtree Road Race by running 6.2 miles through the town!
About an hour’s drive south from Augsburg in the scenic foothills of the Bavarian Alps lies one of the most beautiful churches in the world. The Wieskirche stands by itself like a jewel in the midst of the surrounding rolling hills and pastures. Its interior is a study in the Rococo style, complete with frescoed ceilings and statues, which contain more than 100 angels and cherubs all encircling the Throne of God. The ornate sanctuary was filled with pilgrims attending a morning mass and prayer service. The seraphic sound of the Georgia Boy Choir singing from the rear balcony, descended like flakes of glory on the worshipers below. Following the service, the church remained full as the singers then moved to the front and sang a brief concert of sacred music for the appreciative pilgrims.
Following a quick, but delicious lunch, the Choir visited the famed Neuschwanstein Castle, which lies but a few scenic miles away. As they made their way to and through this fairy-tale like edifice, they were astounded at every turn by the remarkable beauty that surrounded them. One of the main rooms in the castle is the famous Meistersingers Hall. Being Meistersingers themselves, they were granted the unique and rare privilege to sing in this fabled room where Richard Wagner used to present his operas for the private enjoyment of King Ludwig II. They even braved walking across the picturesque Marienbrücke or Marian Bridge that spans the distance between two nearby mountains and the cavernous gorge that lies between them. This span affords the most scenic views of the iconic castle. It was an exhilarating experience for all. After a quick stop for some scrumptious Apple Strudel and Kaiserschmarm (look it up – it is delectable), they had to hustle on back to Augsburg for one more performance for the day.
The patron saint of Augsburg is St. Ulrich, and this week marked a significant celebration in his honor. Those celebrations culminated on Wednesday evening in the ornately beautiful Ulrichsbasilika, with a special prayer service presided over by the Bishop and punctuated with beautiful singing by the Georgia Boy Choir and their friends from the Augsburger Domsingknaben. Each of the two Choirs sang a few songs separately before combining their voices for a moving rendition of the hymn, “Bleib bei uns, Herr” (Abide With Me). In his comments, the Bishop particularly thanked the Georgia Boy Choir for their contribution to the service and talked about how wonderful it is that they are here in Germany building bridges instead of walls as they sing together with their fellow choristers in this country.
One more night with their wonderful hosts from the Augsburger Domsingknaben, and then it is on the next adventure.
Until next time,
The 2023 Georgia Boy Choir Tour Team