From Greek tragedies when choruses narrated the story line of a dramatic play, to the church choirs of Christianity, singing in groups has always been one of mankind’s most favored group activities. It is no wonder then that choirs weathered all sorts of upheavals, including political restrictions such as occurred in the Third Reich, when especially catholic church choirs were curtailed, only to reappear immediately afterwards. Choirs for many purposes have formed, such as church choirs, concert choirs, or just simply for getting together and having a good time with folksongs, many with a lengthy and illustrious history.

Since German immigrants have lived in Canada for more than 300 years there has also been a tradition of singing in groups that goes back a few years longer than this country calls itself Canada.

80 Years Harfentöne

One fine day this May I made a pilgrimage to the St. Patrick’s Church in Toronto’s downtown to attend the 80^th Anniversary Concert of the Male Choir Harfentöne in this fine old church, recently renovated. It was a festive occasion. The marching in of choirs with their flags, the welcoming singing of the German Canadian "Sängergruss" of all the choirs and the special welcome of the Harfentöne under Alfred Schormann, President George Brennauer’s speech of welcome together with an honoring of all the people responsible for this event and the last 80 years, which included a history of its founding and small beginnings to what it is still now, a wonderfully accomplished choir, a practicing brotherhood of song and German culture. (You can read the full speech here)

Five guest choirs participated in the celebration, each presenting a cross section of their particular favorites and cultural background.

At the very end of course they all sang together as a Mixed Mass Choir "Ich bete an die Macht der Liebe" and the Mass Male Choir sang Jacob’s Ladder, a very appropriate ending to a wonderful concert, that must have taken a lot of work to put together, especially since there was to be a dinner (catered by Lein’s) to celebrate the event afterwards in the community hall next door. Here we could see the feeling of brotherhood singing together has established over the years. The camaraderie, the intimacy between the members of the choirs generously included the guests like us who had come to witness this event.

145 Years Germania Choirs

We would meet these same choirs 2 weeks later at the Germania Club Hamilton, as the Germanic Choir celebrated its 145^th Anniversary. A festively decorated hall could hardly accommodate the 7 participating guest choirs that had come to celebrate with the oldest German choir in Canada.

David Simon, president of the Club, welcomed and introduced them all one by one after a very delicious dinner, as the conductors or presidents, also politicians, delivered their congratulatory speeches.

Even the Consul General of Germany Holger Raasch was there with his wife expressing his delight over the occasion, and he stayed to the very end! No doubt he felt like the rest of the visitors, that his was a special evening.

Many to congratulate the Germania Choirs

The concert began with Linus Press leading the Germania Choirs into the welcoming song "Saengergruesse", "Zur Feier" and "Musik, Musik, Musik".

The Germania Choirs & conductor Linus Press

The Torontoer Harfentöne, conducted by Alfred Schormann, made us feel like spring was right there.

The Männerchor Harfentöne & conductor Alfred Schormann, Linda Marcinkus on the piano

As did the Lyra Choir from London, Alvin Reimer conducting.

The Lyra Choir from London, Alvin Reimer conducting

Dieter Wuetherich presented the Hansa Choir with some wonderful German folk songs.

The Hansa Choir & Dieter Wütherich conducting

Manfred Petz made his Edelweiss Choir shine with Austrian songs, including a Jodler with Gretel Schauer.

The Edelweiss Choir, Manfred Petz conducting, soloist Gretel Schauer

After a short intermission a guest choir from Germany, "Die Singenden Schwaben" delighted with 3 songs, the last one being the "Bundeslied" from Mozart, loved by all.

Die Singenden Schwaben

Then Dr. Alfred Kunz, who just celebrated his 80^th birthday with 300 friends a couple of weeks ago, presented his male Concordia Choir and the Mixed Concordia Choirs with more wonderful songs, some musical arrangements made by him.

The Concordia Male Choir, conductor Dr. Alfred Kunz & soloists
The Concordia Choirs, Dr. Alfred Kunz conducting

 The Germania Choirs sang again and then were joined by all the others to sing "Ich bete an die Macht der Liebe", followed by the Mass Male Choirs with "Jacob’s Ladder", and everyone sang along.

The Germania Choir under Linus Press

Mass Choir
...and male only

Outside the weather was complementing the might of all those wonderful voices with rain and storm and did not let up even for the vary travelers having to confront driving a good portion of the night to get home.

A great audience

The Germania Club and its choirs, kitchen and volunteers did a marvelous job commemorating this important event in the history of German Canadian Choirs.

Everyone keeping up our heritage like this is to be thanked and congratulated heartily!

(It is our pleasure to introduce a special poem by Danuta Grigaitis in celebration of 145 years Germania Choirs)

Toronto Choral Society

Little did I know that I would inspire a concert of the English variety, when I narrated a Viennese concert with conductor Geoffrey Buttler, also artistic director of Opera York, and his Toronto Choral Society last year. To get to know one another at rehearsal I had recited an ode by Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy: "The Music Makers", and I was told that Elgar had put it to music 1912 in a choral work, which was now performed by this amazing choir at a concert in the Eastminster United Church on Danforth Ave.

Last Night at the Proms

In this quite monumental choral work I thought I heard a few bars reminiscent of the Nimrod theme of the Enigma Variations, like a first or last flutter of a deeply rooted thought revisited. Soloist was mezzo-soprano Raphael Morgan, a tiny person with a big voice, and the extremely talented and skilled William O’Meara on the grand piano.

The rest of the concert was truly British Prom style including the very satisfying "Rule Britannia", which everyone sings along with gusto, Handel’s "Zadoc the Priest" and the "Coronation Ode" by Edward Elgar.

This choir gives regular concerts and can be checked out on their website www.tonrontochoralsociety.org.

Our English cousins have also a strong choral tradition, which is one more thing we can share.

Until next time

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister