Erfurt, Weimar & Leipzig 2013
The choir at Erfurt Cathedral
Taking a break from what was becoming an annual Summer Tour visit to Spain, June 2013 saw Lincoln College Chapel Choir venture to the more uncharted territory of Central Germany. After a very straightforward journey on Germany’s highly efficient transport systems, we arrived into Erfurt. We enjoyed what would be the first of many hearty meals followed by beer at a local beer garden and headed back to our hostel to begin the week with what we expected would be an early night. As it turned out, however, the hostel was above a bar which was hosting its own party. In true Lincoln Choir style we started the tour as we meant to go on: with an 80s rave which lasted well into the small hours (and after the rest of the party-goers had left!).
On the first full day the choir embarked on a daytrip to the historic city of Weimar. Choir members explored the town during the morning, visiting famous sights such as the Bauhaus Museum and the house of Johann Wolfgang Goethe. We then sang at mass in the beautiful Herz-Jesu Kirche where we performed the Kyrie from Victoria’s beautiful Missa O quam gloriosum, as well as Stanford’s Beati Quorum Via from the popular Three Latin Motets and De Severac’s Tantum Ergo to a full and very appreciative congregation.
The following day saw the choir up bright and early to sing at Mass in the stunning St Mary’s Cathedral, Erfurt. The enormous cathedral had a wonderful acoustic and an impressive organ for Organ Scholar James D’Costa to play Bach’s C major Fugue BWV 547 for the voluntary. We returned to St Mary’s Cathedral that afternoon to sing at Evensong with music including Stanford’s Canticles in C major and Lukaszewski’s Nunc Dimittis. Although we were competing with a local open-air opera festival for musical talent we were assured by the cathedral Organist that we had made a memorable and lasting impression on the population of Erfurt who packed the cathedral.
The second half of the tour saw the choir travel on to the city of Leipzig for a few days of even more singing, sight-seeing and sampling of traditional Bratwurst. Upon arrival, we eagerly descended on the Bach Museum and famous Thomaskirche for an afternoon of culture before heading to an outside cafe to try some excellent local cake and coffee. We then gave two well-attended and successful concerts in the central churches of Michaeliskirche and Peterskirche. The programmes incorporated both choral and organ music, including Monteverdi’s Cantate Domino, Grieg’s Ave Maris Stella, Byrd’s Sing Joyfully and Bach’s Fugue in G minor and Prelude in F minor. On our final evening we ended the tour as we had began, partying at an intriguing underground rap club which also continued well into the small hours. Only Lincoln College Chapel Choir could fill a week with 80s pop music, 90s rap music and some sixteenth-century Victoria thrown in for good measure. We would like to thank the JCR, MCR and Old Members’ Fund for their financial support of a tour which was a lot of fun and a fantastic way to end the academic year.
On the first full day the choir embarked on a daytrip to the historic city of Weimar. Choir members explored the town during the morning, visiting famous sights such as the Bauhaus Museum and the house of Johann Wolfgang Goethe. We then sang at mass in the beautiful Herz-Jesu Kirche where we performed the Kyrie from Victoria’s beautiful Missa O quam gloriosum, as well as Stanford’s Beati Quorum Via from the popular Three Latin Motets and De Severac’s Tantum Ergo to a full and very appreciative congregation.
The following day saw the choir up bright and early to sing at Mass in the stunning St Mary’s Cathedral, Erfurt. The enormous cathedral had a wonderful acoustic and an impressive organ for Organ Scholar James D’Costa to play Bach’s C major Fugue BWV 547 for the voluntary. We returned to St Mary’s Cathedral that afternoon to sing at Evensong with music including Stanford’s Canticles in C major and Lukaszewski’s Nunc Dimittis. Although we were competing with a local open-air opera festival for musical talent we were assured by the cathedral Organist that we had made a memorable and lasting impression on the population of Erfurt who packed the cathedral.
The second half of the tour saw the choir travel on to the city of Leipzig for a few days of even more singing, sight-seeing and sampling of traditional Bratwurst. Upon arrival, we eagerly descended on the Bach Museum and famous Thomaskirche for an afternoon of culture before heading to an outside cafe to try some excellent local cake and coffee. We then gave two well-attended and successful concerts in the central churches of Michaeliskirche and Peterskirche. The programmes incorporated both choral and organ music, including Monteverdi’s Cantate Domino, Grieg’s Ave Maris Stella, Byrd’s Sing Joyfully and Bach’s Fugue in G minor and Prelude in F minor. On our final evening we ended the tour as we had began, partying at an intriguing underground rap club which also continued well into the small hours. Only Lincoln College Chapel Choir could fill a week with 80s pop music, 90s rap music and some sixteenth-century Victoria thrown in for good measure. We would like to thank the JCR, MCR and Old Members’ Fund for their financial support of a tour which was a lot of fun and a fantastic way to end the academic year.
Ellie Parks, Choral Scholar