Thomanerchor LeIPZIG DerThomaner chor Der Thomaner chor ts n te on C F o able T Ta b l e o f c o n T e n T s Greeting from “Thomaskantor” Biller (Cantor of the St Thomas Boys Choir) ......................... 04 The “Thomanerchor Leipzig” St Thomas Boys Choir Now Performing: The Thomanerchor Leipzig ............................................................................. 06 Musical Presence in Historical Places ........................................................................................ 07 The Thomaner: Choir and School, a Tradition of Unity for 800 Years .......................................... 08 The Alumnat – a World of Its Own .............................................................................................. 09 “Keyboard Polisher”, or Responsibility in Detail ........................................................................ 10 “Once a Thomaner, always a Thomaner” ................................................................................... 11 Soli Deo Gloria .......................................................................................................................... 12 Everyday Life in the Choir: Singing Is “Only” a Part ................................................................... 13 A Brief History of the St Thomas Boys Choir ............................................................................... 14 Leisure Time Always on the Move .................................................................................................................. 16 ... By the Way ............................................................................................................................ 17 Management on Every Level ........................................................................................................... 18 Scouting Talent ............................................................................................................................... 19 Visions Come True – 800 Years of Thomana – Foundation for the Future ................................... 20 Cooperation – “Singing Every Day. Awesome!” .............................................................................. 21 Encounters – Living Tradition ........................................................................................................ 22 En Route – Musical Emissaries ....................................................................................................... 23 Contact ............................................................................................................................................ 25 Imprint ............................................................................................................................................. 26 3 GREETInG GREETInG FRoM “Thomaskantor” Biller (Cantor of the St Thomas Boys Choir) For many, the name “Thomaner” inspires fascination, evoking around the school. With the completion of the new daycare center at once vastly different associations: the young boys’ radiant voices and reconstruction of the Villa Thomana, we have taken two of the raised in praise of God, on the one hand – on the other, the secular most important steps toward our future: we now have the additional, overtones evoked by their navy-blue sailor suits. Ultimately, however, and improved, rehearsal and lecture rooms we so urgently needed. it is the memory of Johann Sebastian Bach that is most closely asso- The campus in Leipzig’s Bach Street quarter will continue to grow un- ciated with the St Thomas Boys Choir. For, almost without fail, it is til the St. Thomas Choir’s 800th1 anniversary in 2012, offering current mentioned whenever the music world focuses its attention on Bach, members of the choir a better quality of life and bolstering the recruit- as the choir with which he premiered most of his great works. ment of new young talent. But the term “Thomaner” suggests something like a philosophy It is my hope that this pamphlet will intrigue and inspire you to of life, as well. Growing up in the milieu of great music nourishes the learn more about the fascinating story of Leipzig’s “Thomaner”. conviction that exerting oneself and enduring sacrifi ces is worthwhile to be part of a performance that moves so many. Yet, for the boys the mysterious fact remains that music requires a certain measure of “audacity” too … We are thrilled to see the visible progress being made on the fo- Thomaskantor Georg Christoph Biller rum thomanum, the campus project designed to expand the complex Leipzig, im September 2008 4 1 5 DERTHoMAnER CHoR THETHoMAnERCHoR LEIpzIG CHoIR)THoMAS BoYS (ST 1 “now performing: The Thomanerchor Leipzig (St Thomas Boys Choir)” The announcement alone draws interested and enthused asteroid 1023 “Stella Thomana” recognizes in addition the terrestri- crowds into concert halls worldwide, for Leipzig’s boys’ choir en- al triad of the St. Thomas Church, St. Thomas School, and St. Tho- joys international renown – and this is no recent development. The mas Choir: the “Thomana”. choir’s fi rst international engagements took them to Denmark and St Thomas Boys Choir is devoted primarily to fostering sacral Norway as early as 1920 and, in addition to its numerous appear- music (Musica sacra), especially the cantatas, motets, and oratori- ances in Germany, the choir has received invitations for extended cal works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Its musical repertoire ranges guest performances abroad nearly every year since then. Whether from Gregorian chants to modern hymns. in Sweden, Greece, Spain, or Poland – the choir has been a fi rmly Eight-hundred years of history of everyday life and music, established element of European cultural life for some time now. a widely acknowledged contemporary reputation, a unique, for- In Asia and America, as well, the young singers have captured the ward-looking cultural and educational landscape and almost one attention of an ever-wider audience through excellent performances hundred boys and young men with individual personalities and and extraordinary professionalism. a common passion for music – that is St Thomas Boys Choir. Postage stamps were printed in honor of the St Thomas Boys Choir, even an express train bears its name. The christening of 6 < Dress code: The “Kiel Blouse” (Sailor Suit) ) Originating in Victorian England in the mid-nineteenth century, ir o the dark blue suit with the striped collar became the standard boys’ H wear for Sundays and holidays in bourgeois society. Fashioned af- C ter the typical sailor’s uniform, the suit remained en vogue in many ys European countries until 1930. Since clothes for German sailors at Bo that time were manufactured exclusively in the north German city of mas Kiel, the suit became known as the “Kiel Blouse”. o H Initially worn with shorts and stockings, the soprano and alto T T singers’ blouse by now has become the St Thomas Boys Choir’s vi- (S sual trade mark. (The Domchor Berlin and the Wiener Sängerknaben IG also adopted this suit as their choir uniform.) The older boys, the pz ei tenor and bass singers, perform in traditional dark suit and tie. L R o erch n ma o H T he T Musical presence in historical places Aside from regular concert tours, frequent appearances in the media and numerous CD recordings, the St Thomas Boys Choir nat- urally appears, above all, in its hometown. Its three performances each week in Leipzig’s St.Thomas Church are a musical highlight, attracting crowds of more than 2,500 people – citizens of Leipzig as well as a large number of tourists – to the Motet every Friday eve- ning and Saturday afternoon; the latter performance features a can- tata by Johann Sebastian Bach performed in collaboration with the Gewandhaus orchestra. And on Sundays, just as in Bach’s lifetime, St Thomas Boys Choir provides the musical setting for the service at this historical site. The young singers have also left their indelible mark on the city’s image, especially the younger boys who can be seen hastening to St. Thomas’ at certain times dressed in their typical performance outfit, the “Kiel Blouse” or sailor suit. More notably, however, the choir has set the highest of standards in its regular performances of Bach’s Passions, the Christmas Oratorio, and Mass in B minor, ma- king a lasting impression on Leipzig’s music scene. Anyone who has seen them perform knows: the mesmerizing sound of St Thomas Boys Choir is simply breathtaking. 7 THETHoMAnERCHoR LEIpzIG CHoIR)THoMAS BoYS (ST The Thomaner: Choir and School, a tradition of unity for 800 years The beginning of this long and unique choral tradition dates After the Reformation reached Leipzig in 1539, St. Thomas School and back almost eight hundred years. In the year 1212 – when Leipzig had its choir were placed under the patronage of the city in 1543. Ten years just received its town and market charters – a monastery, church, and later, in 1553, a new building was constructed which – with some school named after Saint Thomas were affi liated to Canons Regular mod ifi cations – housed St. Thomas School until 1902. At that time the (“Augustiner-Chorherrenstift”) to instruct the boys particularly for the school was located directly adjacent to the St. Thomas Church. The musical services that they took over from the secular Canons Regular. principal and the cantor lived in the school building together with the St. Thomas School was also open to the children of Leipzig’s burghers weekly inspectors and a select group of students. and is thus regarded as Germany’s oldest public