German Choirs of Fredericksburg, TX

  Caroling time has come again ...

 

We were honored to be invited to the special Service at the Holy Ghost Lutheran Church which was organized by Johanniterorden Balley Branderburg of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. The Service took place on April 26, 2025 and was officiated by Pastor David Priem. Pastor D. Priem It was quite an interesting and an unusual experience.  Our Thank You to the Johhanniterorden for inviting us to their Ceremony.

Zion Lutheran Church invited us to sing at their Sanctuary again. Last Sunday, our second concert at Zion took place. The video included below was shared by the Zion media team. Thank you guys! Songs presented during the concert: Sängergruß - singers' greeting, Abendchor, Gut Nacht, O Du schöner Westerwald, Lieder, die von Herzen kommen, Wenn die Heckenrosen wieder blühen, Die Wacht am Rhein, Lied unser Band, Das Morgenrot, Welch ein treuer Freund ist Jesus, Danke Schön und Auf Wiederseh'n.

As it has been already announced, on September 28, the German Choirs of Fredericksburg host the 2024 Sängerfest - the German Singers' League Festival. In connection to that, we are going to tell you more about the beginnings of the Texas Sängerbund and the early Sängerfest gatherings. In 1846 , the first Texas singing society was created - 8 immigrants of German background, who met under a live oak tree by the Comal River, in the colony of New Braunfels, decided to meet occasionally to sing German songs. In that way, the first German Texan singing society was created. A few years later, more singing societies came into being in the region. March 2, 1850 - Germania was founded. Around that time, the San Antonio, Sisterdale, and La Grange  singing societies were created as well.   1852 - the Deutsche Männerchor was organized in Austin.   July 4, 1853 - New Braunfel's Germania, the singers of San Antonio and Austin got together to celebrate the holiday with German son...

The Choirs are enjoying the summer break. In the meantime, a recollection of this year's Maifest. "The Yellow Rose of Texas" is one of Texas traditional favorites and also one of very few songs that the Choirs sing in English. The song dates back to the 1850s.

✧ Arion Men's Choir was founded in 1908. At the beginning its seat was at Palo Alto Creek. Arion also had a mixed choir - its members were ladies (wives and daughters) of the Arion singers. Clipping source: Dietel, William. The Radio Post (Fredericksburg, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 51, Ed. 1 Friday, August 30, 1935 , newspaper , August 30, 1935; Fredericksburg, Texas . ( https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1510164/ : accessed June 7, 2024 ), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu ; crediting Gillespie County Historical Society . ✧ Hermannsons Mixed Choir (Hermannsöhne Gemischter Chor) came into being in 1934.  In May 1935, Arion Men's Choir hosted the annual Gillespie County S ä ngerfest. The ladies of the Arion Mixed Choir assisted the men in organizing and preparing the celebrations. Clipping source: Source:  Di...

Another song from Maifest - performed by Arion Männerchor.   "I trink jetzt kan Schnaps mehr"   Studying the song lyrics, you may notice that the German language used in it is a bit different from the language version you might have learned at school. We wanted to know more about it and here it is what we have found out. The lyrics are written in a regional Carinthian dialect spoken in Carinthia (Eastern Alps), Austria.  𝅘𝅥𝅮 The music was created by Gretl Komposch (Margaretha Maria Elisabeth Komposch née Höfferer), an Austrian composer and choir director. She was born on February 22, 1923 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. When Margaretha was a little baby, her family moved to Arnoldstein/Carinthia, Austria. The lady studied at Villach Conservatory and also received musical training from Ferdinand Grossmann and Hans Gillesberger. Gretl Komposch founded several singing societies, including Grenzlandchor Arnoldstein and Die Junggebleiben choir. In the 1970s, G. Komposch collab...

We are getting closer and closer to our 2024 Maifest concert/event, the time with Gemütlichkeit and German songs! The Choirs are very busy with mastering songs for the May concert.

 On December 15, the Choirs took the Christmas cheer to Knopp Retirement Center.    The Choirs also sang German Carols at the Golden Hub Community Center. We met Mr. and Mrs. Santa there!

December is the annual caroling time. The Choirs are going to sing German Christmas carols at three places. December 15 11 am - Knopp I (Healthcare & Rehab.), 11: 45 am - Golden Hub. December 21 6 pm - Heritage Assisted Living

 November 9 The Choirs sang at the Pedernales Creative Art Alliance meeting. We were also invited to the dinner, which took place afterward. PCAA has been our ongoing supporter for many years.  Our big thank you to the PCAA members for their kind and continuing assistance!

Our words of appreciation to the guests who visited with the Choirs and listened to our songs at the annual Herbfest event. Special kudos to all of you who were able to accompany us until the very end of the fest. The videos with our Herbfest songs are available on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.  

Sunday 10/22 - The Choirs' concert at Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, TX (followed by a refreshment time organized by the church). Our thank you to Zion Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, TX for having invited us to sing at their Sanctuary.  Coffee/tea and cookies time at Zion's Fellowship Hall Zion's IT team recorded our performance - watch the video.  Thanks a lot to the IT men!

Our big thank you to all who came to listen to our songs on Saturday during Oktoberfest. It is always nice to feel your support!

September 25  The choirs were invited to the Heritage Assisted Living in Fredericksburg, TX, by the members of its German Club. We all enjoyed the gathering and the sing-along time. Our thank you to the German Club for the invitation!      Mr. Larry Kuhlken led the Choirs' program

The German Choirs of Fredericksburg TX gave their respectful farewell to Ms. Lillian M. Meurer, a past member of Gemischter Chor, who had sung with the group for 50 years. The Mass of Resurrection took place on Friday, September 15, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Thank you, Ms. Lillian. God bless your soul. 

After the summer break, the Choirs started another singing year last Thursday.  Welcome back to the new and "old" singers! We are going to participate in the 131st Texanischer Gerbirgs Sängerfest which takes place in New Braunfels, Texas, on September 23.  This year's Sängerfest venue: McKenna Events Center, Lone Star Room, 801 W San Antonio St. New Braunfels, Texas 78130. Anyhow, new songs are being practiced. In the meantime, on our blog, another song from the last Maifest: "Was noch frisch und jung an Jahren"/ Gustav Gunsenheimer.

The annual Maifest hosted by the German Choirs of Fredericksburg has been history, already. We thank all the guests who attended it. You made the event special.    The President of Hermannsöhne Gemischter Chor introduces the song "Juchhei, dich muss ich haben!". And here is the song performed by the men's choir.    "Im Wein liegt Sonnenschein" by the ladies.   More videos/songs from Maifest 2023 on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. Nowadays, the Choirs are having the usual summer break. The singers come back to the rehearsal room on August 4.

  Gemütlichkeit and the annual May performance are coming! The Choirs are working on their new repertoire. Come and listen to our new old songs!