Germany and England Tour Travelogue Two
Dear Friends,
Founded in the year 975 (that’s right 1048 years ago), the Regensburg Domspatzen (Cathedral Sparrows) is the oldest Boy Choir in the world. Founded in 2009, the Georgia Boy Choir is among the youngest. On Saturday evening, in the small town of Riedenburg, Germany, the old and the young came together for a tremendously exciting evening of beautiful singing.
Having bid a fond farewell to their friends in Munich earlier in the day, the Georgia Boy Choir rolled into town in their sleek-looking, double-decker Super Motor Coach. They were greeted very warmly by 60 or so boys and young men from the Regensburg Domspatzen. After a brief time of socializing, the two groups gathered in the concert hall for some rehearsal. Led by the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Georgia Boy Choir, David White, the combined choir sang John Rutter’s delightful song, “I Will Sing With the Spirit.” Both ensembles were well prepared and it didn’t take long before they were ready for the evening’s concert. But first, food. The boys from America and those from Germany bonded over some delicious Pork Schnitzel sandwiches.
The community of Riedenburg was very excited about the evening’s festivities. The modest concert hall was filled to capacity 20 minutes before the start time and extra chairs had to be brought out to accommodate the overflow crowd, which included the Bürgermeister (the mayor) and other local dignitaries. As hosts, the Domspatzen took the stage first and, led by their conductor, Kathrin Giehl, thrilled the audience with their robust and artful singing of some considerably difficult, yet beautiful sacred songs. These were followed by some delightful German folk tunes.
Having been inspired by their German cohorts, the 38 boys and young men from Georgia then took to the stage, and it was clear that they meant business. They sang with energy and focus that clearly enthralled the packed-in crowd. More than one audience member described the visceral experience of listening to the Choir – not only did they hear the singing, but they felt the sound as it reverberated through the hall. The Choir’s dynamics ranged from the softest of laser-focused pianissimos to thundering fortissimos that brought the listeners to their feet as they clambered for more. The grand finale of the concert was the two choirs together singing the Rutter they had practiced earlier. It was immensely satisfying, but it was clear the audience could have stayed and listened all night long. Their joyous, rhythmic clapping continued for many minutes until well after all 100 musicians were off of the stage and out of the room. The boys were beaming.
On Sunday morning, still basking in the glory of the previous night, the gentlemen from Georgia gathered at the Regensburg Dom, the largest gothic cathedral in Bavaria, where they were slated to sing the noon Mass. The Domspatzen themselves are the resident choir of the cathedral, and it is a rare privilege for any other choir to be invited to sing in this hallowed space. Looking particularly handsome in their beautiful blue cassocks and green cinctures, the boys quickly adjusted to the vacuous acoustic of the room and managed to fill it splendidly with their ethereal voices. Organist Scott Atchison made the thick stone walls and immense pillars tremble as he concluded the service with a most jubilant rendition of the Toccata from the Fifth Symphony of Charles Marie Widor.
A leisurely cruise up the Danube river on a boat called the Swarovski Crystal Princess filled up most of the balance of the day, and after a delectable dinner, the boys rested well, grateful for what they have experienced over the last few days and excited about the adventures that lay ahead.
Until next time,
The 2023 Georgia Boy Choir Tour Team