Hertzlichen Grüßen vom Leipzig und Joshua Lindgren

Guten Morgen! Gestern haben wir viel zu tun! Other than sleeping on the bus for most of the in-between travel from Berlin to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg to Leipzig, there was much to do on Thursday 29. May for the Bethany College Choir: After reaquainting ourselves with the Sun each morning around 5am or before (When it takes to the sky and lights all of Germany...not to mention waking us all up) everyone made it safely to the bus to make our way to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg.
In Wittenberg the Choir had a chance to see many of the wonderful sights where Martin Luther, that great Reformer, spent a great deal of his time and where he has his final resting place. Although we were split into two groups, there was nevertheless not enough time to see or hear about most of the wonderful exhibits and sights; we very much enjoyed what we saw.
After the tour, a group of students and I ventured into a small Eiscafe (somewhat resembling a roadside diner in the USA) and began the ensuation that begat the complete frustration of the Frau who was working the Eis (ice cream) counter. She could tell we were English speakers and brought us all English menus and we sat down, implying that we were going to dine-in. ...Or so she thought. Half of the group got up and ordered ice cream and left, a fourth ordered ice cream and sat back down, and I made the mistake of trying to get a pizza made in the limited time I had before the bus would leave. Needless to say, I don't think any words can really completely describe for someone who was not there the extremity that is the culture and social barriers we face anew each day. (But one cannot say that I did not try...)
From Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, we traveled to Leipzig (with much sleeping on the bus- to everyone's discomfort, näturlich).
St. Tomaskirche and St. Nicholaikirche were of great interest to me as an organist and soon-to-be graduate student in sacred music. It goes without saying that, naturally, ja - jemand wißt, that Bach, who tenured here, is mein Lieblingskomponist. It was fabulous to see the place (although physicallz much larger in confabulation and imagination than in palpability) where the Master had worked his craft and completed so very many compositions and achieved so very many great things besides. It was hallowing, indeed.
After touring the St. Nicholaikicrche and the St. Tomaskirche, the Choir sang two selections outside the St. Tomaskirche just in front of the famed Bach statue. After singing our selections, Dr. Mahraun announced to the great crowd that had amassed gradually as our music progressed, that we were from a college in Lindsborg, Kansas... USA - to which a great ,,Aaah...'' and ensuing applause commended our efforts.
After the warm reception by the random passer-byers and our accompanying tour friends, we checked into our hotel for the night where I again engaged in a bit of conversation with some natives (Auf deutsch, meine ich näturlich) realizing again how much more one can learn by being immersed in a culture than, yes, even four years of studying a language can even prepare.
Es ist genau ganz gut, daß ich einmal in deutschland bin. Naja, deutschland: wir lieben dich und danke dich für alles!
Bis nächste Post,
Dein Joshua

Jay Corwin Flight and First Day

well............the flight from chicago to copenhagen was very interesting. Our flight left about 10:30 and we were all expecting to get to sleep the whole way, were we wrong. We got a meal about 12:00 midnight, during the flight. Needless to say we all got woken up to eat a meal, from there it was hard to get back to sleep. Then you can`t forget children on flights, two of them screaming the whole way there. I probably got about 3 hours of sleep. When we arrived at copenhagen, it was very short, we got on our other plane to Berlin, which was very small. The flight was good, other than the fact that 6 people didn`t have luggage. So we had to figure that out before we could get on our bus. We then went on a tour of Berlin with a tour guide, it was ok. Alot of people were hungry, cranky, and sleepy from the plane ride so the tour was good for others. Some took advantage and got some sleep time. From there we checked into our hotel, ate, then got to came back and take a shower. Which was awesome because we had been traveling for almost a day. That was about it for the first day, because after that, everyone went to bed to get rest for the next day--Lutherstadt-Wittenberg and Leipzig.

Well-wishes from Kirke Mechem

I (Dr. Mahraun) received an email Saturday, May 17, from Kirke Mechem--the composer of "Time". He and I corresponded several years ago when I was writing my doctoral dissertation. I was analyzing and writing about eight different works for chorus and baritone solo, and Mechem's "Time" was one of those pieces. Here is a portion of his email in which he talks about his Lindsborg & Bethany connections:

Dear Daniel:
I just learned that your Bethany College Choir will soon embark on its European tour. Congratulations! I thank you for including "Time," and wonder if you know the Lindsborg connection in my family. When my father retired as executive director of the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka, he and my mother moved to Lindsborg. They both sang in the performances of Messiah and St. Matthew Passion, and very much enjoyed the music and art in that remarkable town. They used to joke that they were going to change their name to Mechstrom. I always enjoyed my visits to Lindsborg.
I wish you all success on this most interesting tour that you have planned. I do not have a good recording of the published version of "Time," and would appreciate receiving a copy of your tour program CD if you make one.
Gute Reise (or whatever that is in Swedish)
Kirke

I might also mention that Mechem's first published work, "Make a Joyful Noise", is dedicated to Rolf Espeseth--conductor of the Bethany Choir from 1951-1955.

Itinerary

Tues., May 27

Flight from Wichita to Berlin

Wed., May 28

Berlin: city tour, free time

Thurs., May 29

Wittenberg: Schlosskirche (Castle Church and Luther grave), Lutherhaus museum, Stadtkirche St Marien (City Church)

Leipzig: Thomaskirche, Bach-Museum, University

Fri., May 30

Eisleben: Luthers Geburtshaus & Sterbehaus

19.00 (7:00pm) Concert, Andreaskirche, Eisleben

Sat., May 31

Arnstadt: Bach Kirche

Erfurt: Dom St Marien (Cathedral), Augustinerkloster (Monastery), University

19.00 (7:00pm) Concert, Kaufmannskirche, Erfurt

Sun., June 1

Eisenach: Bachhaus museum, Georgenkirche, Wartburg Castle

10.00(10:00am) Worship Service, Annenskirchhe, Eisenach

Mon., June 2

Bergen-Belsen; Lübeck; Rostock

Tues., June 3

Ferry from Rostock to Trelleborg, Sweden

Karlshamn: Utvandrar (Emigrant) Monument

Kalmar: Kalmar Slott (Castle)

19.00 (7:00pm) Concert, Domkyrka, Kalmar

Wed., June 4

Glasriket (Crystal Kingdom): Orrefors, Kosta-Boda

Stockholm

Thurs., June 5

Stockholm: city tour, free time

19.00 (7:00pm) Concert, Dalarö Kyrka, Dalarö (Stockholm)

Fri., June 6

National Day of Sweden

Stockholm: Vasa Museum, free time

Sat., June 7

Munkfors; Ransäter

TBA Performance at Ransäter Folk Festival

18.00 (6:00pm) Concert, Ransäter Kyrka, Ransäter

Sun., June 8

Sunnemo; Torsby

11.00 Worship Service, Sunnemo Kyrka, Sunnemo

19.00 (7:00PM) Concert, Fryksände Kyrka, Torsby

Mon., June 9

Oslo: Vigeland Park, Frognerseteren

Tues., June 10

Flight from Oslo to Wichita

Program

Prelude (2006).....Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978)

Hear My Prayer (1844).....Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)


Der Herr ist mein Hirt, SWV 33 (1619).....Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)

From Ten Kansas Anthems, op. 105 (2001).....Eskil Hemberg (1938-2004)
1. I Am the Good Shepherd
9. If Any Want To Become My Followers
3. Jesus Said To Him

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (1529).....Johann Walter (1496-1570)

Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist (1525).....Johann Walter


Snow (The King’s Trumpeter) (2000).....John Muehleisen (b. 1955)

Time (Lines found on an old bell at Chester) (1997).....Kirke Mechem (b. 1925)

Immortal Bach (1988, rev. 1998).....arr. Knut Nystedt (b. 1915)


Music for Oboe, Soprano, Organ to be announced


Four Pastorales, op. 68, no. 1 (1962).....Cecil Effinger (1914-1990)
I. No Mark
II. Noon
III. Basket
IV. Wood


On Jordan’s Stormy Banks.....arr. K. Lee Scott

Wondrous Love.....arr. Joseph Jennings

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.....arr. Leo Nestor

Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal.....arr. Alice Parker

Tryggare kan ingen vara.....arr. Robert Scholz

Choir Picture

The Bethany College Choir for 2007-2008