St.-Martins-Chorknaben Biberach
Encyclopedia
The St.-Martins-Chorknaben Biberach (English
: St Martin's Boys' Choir Biberach) is a boys' and men's choir from Biberach an der Riß
in southern Germany
. The choir was founded in 1962 and is since then member of the Pueri Cantores, an international association of catholic youth choirs.
The choir regularly takes part in services in its home parish St Martin and the surrounding parishes. In their annual concert tour the choirboys also perform abroad.
, that is without instrumental sound. Their repertory covers all the periods in musical history – from Gregorian Chant
over Bach
and Mozart
up to modern composers like Poulenc
or Miškinis
. The choir rehearses twice a week. As the need arises the singers get an extra voice training. Moreover there is a rehearsal weekend twice a year.
2002 the St.-Martins-Chorknaben stayed on Guernsey
. Inhabitants of this Channel Island
were interned in Oflag V-B
in Biberach during World War II
. With their visit the choirboys could contribute to strengthen the partnership between Guernsey and Biberach.
Hinter den Stimmen – Die Chorknaben aus Biberach (English
: Behind the Voices – The Choirboys from Biberach)
The documentary had its premiere in November 2009 at the film festival of Biberach. The DVD was released in July 2010.
CD:
Cantate Domino (2009)
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: St Martin's Boys' Choir Biberach) is a boys' and men's choir from Biberach an der Riß
Biberach an der Riß
Biberach is a town in the south of Germany. It is the capital of Biberach district, in the Upper Swabia region of the German state of Baden-Württemberg...
in southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The choir was founded in 1962 and is since then member of the Pueri Cantores, an international association of catholic youth choirs.
The choir regularly takes part in services in its home parish St Martin and the surrounding parishes. In their annual concert tour the choirboys also perform abroad.
Repertoire
The St.-Martins-Chorknaben sing sacred music – usually a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
, that is without instrumental sound. Their repertory covers all the periods in musical history – from Gregorian Chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
over Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
up to modern composers like Poulenc
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was a French composer and a member of the French group Les six. He composed solo piano music, chamber music, oratorio, choral music, opera, ballet music, and orchestral music...
or Miškinis
Vytautas Miškinis
Vytautas Miškinis is a Lithuanian music composer and professor, who has been Choir Director of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre conservatory since 1985. He has also served as Artistic Director of the Ąžuoliukas youth choir.He began his career in Azuoliukas at the age of seven as a...
. The choir rehearses twice a week. As the need arises the singers get an extra voice training. Moreover there is a rehearsal weekend twice a year.
Concert tours
With their annual concert tour the St.-Martins-Chorknaben want to contribute to the understanding among nations. During their journey they try to stay in host families to get to learn the country and its people.2002 the St.-Martins-Chorknaben stayed on Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
. Inhabitants of this Channel Island
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
were interned in Oflag V-B
Oflag V-B
Oflag V-B Biberach, was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Biberach in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg from 1940 to 1942. Most of the prisoners were British officers captured in the Battle of France in 1940 or in Greece in June 1941...
in Biberach during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. With their visit the choirboys could contribute to strengthen the partnership between Guernsey and Biberach.
Media
DVD:Hinter den Stimmen – Die Chorknaben aus Biberach (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Behind the Voices – The Choirboys from Biberach)
The documentary had its premiere in November 2009 at the film festival of Biberach. The DVD was released in July 2010.
CD:
Cantate Domino (2009)