SCHWARZWALD SONG: Satis Shroff

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SCHWARZWALD SONG: Satis Shroff

 This is about the lovely Schwarzwald hamlet of Freiburg-Kappel in which the lecturer, singer and artist Satis Shroff lives. It is about his men's choir, the people he meets in the beautiful Dreisam Valley, his social engagements, other vereins (associations), seasonal events, transition, the events staged by the vereins, Summer and Winter concerts, excursions to Hochdorf, Hartheim, Zunzingen, St. Peter, Buchenbach, Eguisheim (Alsace, France). Satis Shroff likes the motto of his choir 'Liederkranz,'which is just a German expression for a German society of men. The motto goes thus: In Freud und Leid zum Lied bereit. Dankeschön.
European Culture:

Freiburg: The Gateway to the Black Forest

(By Satis Shroff)

‘Frisch auf! Trekking in the Black Forest (Satis Shroff, Schwarzwald)

For a week Freiburg became the capital city of the trekkers from all over Germany. There they were bearing their association or verein flags, banners, wearing their traditional costumes or trekking outfits singing traditional trekking songs called ‘Wanderlieder,’ because trekking is a way of life in the Alpine countries, and Freiburg and the Black Forest are no exception. They were all obliged to go through Freiburg’s Schwabentor, the gateway of the Swabians. I found the entire spectacle with olde, traditional costumes rather delightful and the trekkers who came to town rather friendly.

The participants were greeted by the minister for ecology Tanja Gönner at the elegant Concert House and the procession began at 2 pm along the Schwabentor. Last year 1,7 million trekkers took part in the treks organised by the vereine (associations). In Freiburg alone, you could take part in 100 treks with 300 trained-guides. 56 per cent of Germans say that walking in the countryside is one of their favourite pastimes. Even the health insurance companies recognise the Wanderverein’s decorations as a show of health performance and a desire to lead healthy lives. After all, men are ruled by toys, said Napoleon, and distributed medals to his troops for their performance and participation in many battles. In this case, it’s a peaceful jolly trekking, and the people are not out to conquer countries but hearts. The magic word is: Völkerverständigung. Aiming at the understanding between different ethnic folks. Even among the Germans you talk of Völkerverständigung because Germany is a cocktail of folks and dialects, despite Hitler’s attempt to make an Aryan race out of Germany. He himself was an Austrian. A Berliner, Saarbrücker, Bavarian, hamburger, Swabian, Badener and other Germans have all their own way os saying things, expressions, tongues and psyche too. No two Germans think alike, and it also depends on the strata of the society one is from. I like the ad about the hard-working Swabians: ‘Mir könnet alles, ausser Hochdeutsch,’ which means: we can do everything aside from speaking Standard German.’ It’s the upbringing in a local, dialect that causes linguistic faux pas in the company of others from other regions. 

You are greeted by the different verein groups with a hearty ‘Frisch auf!’ The area around Feldberg, which has the highest mountain, has subalpine vegetation. It is the desire of the verein to preserve our wonderful heimat, to develop it for future generations after the principle ‘Protection through Use’ by giving the people who work and live in the vicinity of the forests (alpine farmers, forest rangers, forest-workers) a means of subsistence. This is where the Schwarzwald association plays a vital role.


One of the delights of living in the three country triangle is that you can undertake walks in the Black Forest countryside, go across the river Rhine to the Vosges mountains in Alsace (France) and Hegau in the Lake Constance area. The Black Forest Association celebrated its 110th German Wanderer’s Day, a day in which you could go for walks in the countryside, and the towns and hamlets participating undertake part in the celebration offered cultural programmes. The motto was: Nature, Culture and Wanderung (trekking) belong together. Since Nature is intact in the Black Forest, culture has been raised to a higher level, it can be relished with all the senses.

The Schwarzwaldverein has 75,000 members divided into 239 groups with 23,000 kilometres of trekking routes that have been marked and are nursed. You can do long treks, regional treks and local travels with yellow rhombus signs to show you where to go en route, which give you a sense of security, reliability in order to reach your respective destination. The yellow rhombus on the trees shows you where you are, in which direction the next destination is, and how many kilometres. It also tells you where you can rest and refresh yourself.

The association also issues new updated trekking maps. Moreover, the Schwarzwaldverein is accredited as an official Nature conservation association according to paragraph 29 of the Bundesnaturschutz law, and also protects wild areas, wild animals and plants. The Heimat and Trekking Academy Baden Württemberg co-operates with the Black Forest and Swabian Albverein, and educated and trains trekking-guides. There are over 700 certified guides. The Schwarzwaldverein also promotes variety in the trekking and cultural programmes. It also runs 25 trekking homes, where you can eat, drink and sleep, and is also responsible for the 67 wildlife observation towers. Additionally, it promotes Germany’s youth, and nordic walking  and biking routes in the mountain trails.

In order to promote tourism, a special card has been introduced for the Black Forest with which you can use the bus, streetcar and the train, which is unique in Europe. Other European nations should also follow this innovative example, to make getting around easy in the Alpine countries.

‘What’s the Black Forest?’ you might ask. It is our dark, green homeland and is the biggest chain of the middle mountains in Germany. If you want to traverse the entire mountain ranges, you can do it from the ‘Gold-City’ Pforzheim in the north over 280 km to the historical town of Basle (Switzerland) along the High-Rhine to the south.

The mountains to the east and west of the geological faults that we call the Vosges and the Black Forest, have arisen almost 1500 metres. The stretch of land which is the Upper Rhine Rift through which the Rhine flows today crumbled, thereby creating the present geological formation. A great part of the Northern Black Forest is composed of mixed sandstone and is not good for agricultural purposes. The Middle and Southern Schwarzwald mountains have hummocky topography which makes it easier to cultivate and ideal for settlements.

Whereas the Romans didn’t find this area interesting due to geo-political reasons, settlements began to grow in the 8th and 10th century in the Black Forest mountains, valleys and spurs, The first houses were the cloisters. In the Middle Ages the Schwarzwald was known for its silver and lead mines. The burning ovens in the Neuenburger area show that even in the Celtic times iron was an important ore. The spas (thermal baths) of Baden Baden, Badenweiler, Bad Krözing, Bad Bellingen use the healing wetness which comes from the mountains. A combination of a mild climate, fresh mountain air make a lot of places in the Black Forest mountains ideal for reconvalescence of people with pulmonary illnesses (Kurorte). The Schwarzwald, Black Forest or Foret Noir, as the name suggests, is made of pine and beech forests. During the early industrialisation, a big part of the forests were used for producing charcoal, glass-manufacture, mining for ores, and wood for home-fires needed in the bigger towns of Freiburg and Basle. When the forests were denuded, spruce saplings were planted which changed the face of the Black Forest to its present form.

Why do people seek the Waldeinsamkeit, the stillness of the forest? The answer lies perhaps in a poem penned by L. Tieck. It crops up at the beginning at the end of a stanza. Tieck uses this in varying form thrice in his story ‘The blond Eckbert.’ The opening lines of poem no. 5 in Eichendorff’s cycle ‘Der Umkehrende’ runs thus:

Waldeinsamkeit
Du grüne Review…

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 THE KAPPLER SONG (Satis Shroff)
The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the Schauinsland School in Freiburg-Kappel. The invitees who came to congratulate were the mayor Gerda Stuchlik, the local mayor Hermann Dittmers and school counsellor Susanne Link.
A colourful programme was staged by the school with a musical, a quiz and a photo exhibition. The parents’ band, under Wolfgang Rogge, played and sang quite a number of songs.
Initially, there was a flute number—Hencry Purcell’s suite ‘Reigen,’ followed by words of greeting to the guests by Ms. Mann, the school’s headmistress. Then came another flute song: Uli Führe ‘Insist in the Wish.’ Mayor Stuchlik’s speech was followed by Mr. Dittmer’s one. After that it was the Children’s Musical ‘Das Vier-Farben-Land’ by Gina Ruck-Panquet with the kids of the Class III. Among other speakers were: Ms. Link, Mrs. Preiß and Ms. Mann. The school-kids sang a song.
The MGV-Kappel ‘Liederkranz’ choir was conducted this time by Wolfgang Busse, since Johannes Söllner had to attend the marriage of Felix Rosskopf, the former conductor of the MGV. The men’s choir sang ‘Veronika, der Lenz ist da,’ and a humorous song made popular by the Comedian Harmonists ‘Mein kleiner grüner Kaktus.’ Judging from the applause, the audience liked it very much. The last song that the MGV-Kappel sang was the Kappler Song, by Franz Joseph Vitt, 1936) with the school-kids and parents, with a heart-warming togetherness.
The Kapplerlied was about the hamlet of Kappel, which lies below the crescent of peaks.
O lovely Vale of Kappel,
I think of you.
O my Heimat,
I greet you
A thousand times.

There is mention of the flood of silver-ore from the Schauinsland hill, of Kappel’s small church, where the traveller finds rest and peace. The stream, and the green meadow, and the song of the shepard boy. The hill-stream flows, the wooden mill-wheel creaks and moves, and the pine forests echo with the chirps and tweets of the bird songs. The countryman struggles on the steep hill, the hard-working mountain man uses his drill to dig for ores in Schauinsland. The baskets, heavily laden with ores moved down to the valley along the ropeway. In the deep Black Forest the axe was swung and giant trees felled. The son of Kappler Valley sojourns afar and has longing for his home. His eyes become ultimately tired and close. The Kappler Valley should be his last home of rest and he greets it a thousand times.
The joy of singing together was plainly evident.
We, as a choir, were also happy when we saw and heard the audience singing with us, for Klaus Sütterle had distributed the Kapplerlied among them before we sang. This school-jubilee showed us again that the choir-music of the MGV ‘Liederkranz’ has the ability to bring the people of Kappel together.
Yes, singing releases hormones within us that make us happy and our souls rejoice too.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBJuhZP-3Rc
Satis Shroff sings an English song with his German friends from the mgv-kappel, a men's choir which he joined in 2009 and he has been singing with the choir on different occassions such as charity concerts for disabled people in their Home, for the children of Syrian refugees and with the Freiburger Neplese Association together with Kunst-und-Kultur-Verein-Kappel for the earthquke victims of Nepal, and at the Stusie Bar of the the University of Freiburg in cooperation with the mgv-kappel and FNA for the school-children of Nepal who receive scholarships so that the underprivileged but smart pupils can carry on their school education.
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Satis Shroff ist neuer Vorsitzender vom MGV-Kappel

MGV-Kappel “Liederkranz.” Der Männergesangverein hat einen neuen Vorsitzenden gewählt bei der Jahreshauptversammlung am 7. März 2014. Der 1. Vorstand Klaus Sütterle gab nach vier Jahren das Amt ab. Nachfolger ist der aus Nepal stammende Dozent und Dichter Satis Shroff, der bis jetzt aktiv als Schriftführer im Vorstand tätig war. Er singt im Männerchor mit Begeisterung und hat als Solist beim letzten Weihnachtskonzerte gesungen. Er ist in Deutschlands Mainstream schon längst integriert, beherrscht die Sprache und mag die deutsche Kultur. Er hat seine Schulzeit in einem britischen Internat verbracht und ist bestens mit englischem Gesang und der Musik vertraut. Er singt auch in Nepali und Hindi.

Thorsten Albrecht übernimmt das Amt des Schriftführers. Richard Linder bleibt der 2. Vorstand. Rainer Keller ist bestätigt worden im Amt als Kassenführer. Wolfgang Busse bleibt der 2. Dirigent und Notenwart.

Nach langjähriger Tätigkeit im Vereinsvorstand haben sich die Herren Michael Stotz, Heinz Hamburger und Werner Heise vom Vorstand verabschiedet. Der neue 1. Vorsitzende hat sich herzlich bedankt bei den drei ausscheidenden Vorstandsmitgliedern für die Gute Zusammenarbeit. Zum Anlass hat der Männergesangverein zwei Lieder gesungen: „Durchs Wiesetal gang i“ und „Abendzeit.“


Satis Shroff will die bestehende gute Kooperation mit dem Kappeler Kindergarten St. Barbara unter der Leitung von Frau Allgeier weiter vorantreiben. Er ist der Meinung,dass die kleinen Carusos weiter unterstützt werden sollen. Er möchte die gute Zusammenarbeit mit den anderen Vereinen in Kappel, im Dreisamtal, der Freiburger Nepalese Association (FNA) und das Mogoleizentrum ausbauen/fordern und für eine bessere Mediakommunikation sorgen. Er wünscht sich, dass die neuen Vereinsmitglieder sich wohlfühlen und neue Aktivitäten im Verein übernehmen.

Klaus Sütterle schied aus Privaten und beruflichen Gründen aus dem Vorstand. Er bekam einen Geschenkekorb als Abschiedsgeschenk.

Derzeit zählt der MGV „Liederkranz“ 22 Sänger und 139 fördernde passive Mitglieder. Im vergangenen Jahr trafen sich Chor und Dirigent Johannes Söllner zu 39 Proben. Höhepunkte im Jahre 2013 waren der Projektchor unter dem Motto „Männersache“ am 13.Juli und das Weihnachtskonzert, mit dem Musikverein Kappel am 26.12.2013.

Im Mittelpunkt des neuen Jahres stehen unter der Rubrik Soziales Engagement das Benefizkonzert für Syriens Kinder am 20.März 2014 im Kurhaus Kirchzarten um 19 Uhr sowie das Weihnachtskonzert am 26. Dezember in der Kappeler Festhalle. Ein neue Projektchor wird im Sommer auch stattfinden. Das schöne am Projektchor war die Tatsache, dass alle acht Sänger im Chor geblieben sind. Der MGV mit dem dynamischen Dirigent Söllner ist auf dem besten Weg eine gutes Stimmvolumen zu erreichen.



Social Engagement: Men’s Choir Kappel sings for Syria’s Refugee Children (Satis Shroff)
The men’s choir ‘Liederkranz’ from Freiburg-Kappel will be singing on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 7pm in the Kurhaus Kirchzarten, Dietenbach Street 22. The whole sum collected at the charity concert will be handed over to the UNICEF for the refugee children of Syria. The entry is free but it would be wonderful if you’d contribute for these war ravaged and traumatised children and mothers who have been suffering such a lot in the past, and even today. The Kurhaus hall will be open 6pm. It’s possible to reserve your seats under the telephone no. 07661-908 4400 or per e-mail: syrienbenefiz@gmail.com. For your gastronomic delights we’ve arranged delicious finger-food. Martin Schley (SWF 4) will be moderating and also entertaining you. The Kirchzartener Children’s ballet ‘Next Step’will be performing at the beginning of the programme, as well as the Soul-family. The men’s choir (MGV-Kappel), conducted by Johannes Söllner, will be singing the following hits: Evening Rise (the German version of a Native American song), Moskau (Dschingis Khan, arrangement JS 2012), Weit, weit Weg (an Austrian song composed by Hubert von Goisern, arrangement JS 2012), Durch’s Wiesetal gang i ( a folksong from the badischen Black Forest), Banua (a song from Africa), 42nd Street (Harry Warren, Al Dubin), Ich war noch nicht in New York (Udo Jürgens, Michael Kunz) and Heaven is a Wonderful Place.
Soziales Engagement: MGV-Kappel: Unicef Benefizkonzert zu gunsten syrische Kinder (Satis Shroff) Der Männergesangverein-Kappel “Liederkranz” singt wieder am Donnerstag, dem 20. März 2014 um 19:00 in das Kurhaus Kirchzarten, Dietenbacherstrasse 22. Der ganze Reinerlös geht zugunsten UNICEF für die syrischen Flüchtlingskinder. Der Eintritt ist frei, aber es wäre schön, wenn Sie spenden würden. Saaleinlass ist ab 18:00 Uhr. Reservierungen sind möglich unter Telefon: 07661-908 4400 oder per E-Mail: syrienbenefiz@gmail.com. Für ihre Gaumen ist eine Gastronomie angeschlossen. Martin Schley wird moderieren und sorgt auch für Unterhaltung. Die Kirchzartener Kinderballet “next step” wird auch am Anfang dabei sein, sowie die Soulfamilie. Der Männergesangverein-Kappel, unter der Leitung von Dirigent Johannes Söllner, wird folgende Hits singen: Evening Rise (Native American Lied), Moskau (Dschingis Khan, Arrangement J.S. 2014),Weit,weit Weg (Hubert von Goisern, Arrangement J.S. 2012)Durch’s Wiesetal gang i (Volkslied aus dem badischen Schwarzwald), Banua (Afrikanisches Lied), 42nd Street (Harry Warren, Al Dubin)Ich war noch niemals in New York (Udo Jürgens, Michael Kunze) und Heaven is a Wonderful Place.
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What Moves the Schauinsländer Berggeister in Kappel? (Satis Shroff)
<b>Höllenzunft News:</b> The Fifth Season has arrive and it’s time for merry-making in the Vale of Dreisam. The knaves, or Narren as we call them,are everywhere. have overtaken the village and town councils and built new governments, and passed new laws (Narrengesetz). The mayor are obliged to turn over their offices to the masked knaves, witches and all sorts of motley coloured fighures and ghouls that make their way to government seats in a spirit of merriment and joy, a state of emergency has been declared. If you can’t fight this motley crowd, why, then join ’em. That’s your only way out if you want to stay in your village, town or city. Your only other option is to make for the open spaces or the mountains like the Venetians do when it’s carvevaltime in the city of lagoons, when the costumed visitors go looney.I, on my part, am heading for the North Sea Isle of Sylt to enjoy the fresh, salty air and the cold gusts from the sea. I’m on a wellness trip, and say bye-bye to my cyber-friends for a few weeks ( till the fasnet madness is over,eh?).
After all, every knave has his or her rights. Not only have the keys handed over to the masked and motley-clad figures but also the cash-boxes. The freedom of the knaves isn’t allowed to be ill-spent with work. The pedestrian traffic is obliged to take the form of costumed procesions. Everything will be regulated in a case-to-case manner; what remains unchanged is the law concerning youth (Jugendgesetz). Enjoy the fifth season or ‘närrische times’ as we call it, till Ash Wednesday. This order has to be followed without a second thought. Every person who is nabbed for not following these rules, will have to forsake of his or her närrischen honorary rights.
Proclaimed in Kirchzarten on ‘schmutzige ‘ (dirty) Thursday, 27. February anno Domini 2014.
Signed by the clique council of Höllenzunft Kirchzarten.
Fasnet or Fastnacht (the night of fasting) is carnevaltime in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, a time to wear new costumes, throw confetti at passersby and eat sweet ‘leckerlis’ from the many German and Swiss bakeries such as fasnet’s cute, small cakes, Berliners with marmalade fillings and fried sweet-meat, ‘Mutzen’, Nautzen or Mäuschen (little mice, not real ones).
During the procession on Rose Monday you get to see the cheerful side of the Alpine and Teutonic people along the Rhine, the Black Forest, the Baar, the Ortenau and the Wiesen Valley, where the Hansele, witches, demons, vampires, mountain spirits, animals-mask wearers greet you. In Schramberg (Schwarzwald) you even get a Brezel-blessing if you sing the song of the clique he or she belongs to.
In Kappel it’s the tradition among the Schauinsländerberggeister to recite a prosepoem about the local gossip that’s making the rounds in the Stammtisch of the taverns. Each prosepoem has a moral at the end. Here are a few:
A man in Kappel, we hear it everywhere, tries to keep fit by jogging around our fair village. Sometimes he walks like a pedestrian, our villahe mayor. He moves such a lot of things at our place, goes to meetings here and there, and when it comes to saving money, he outdoes Uncle Ebenizer.However, it didn’t work once, on Christmas it was, as every child knows. He used to play music to the tune of Herrn Preis, the men’s choir sings to it, a concert and the hall is full. The village mayor also attends it, that’s very clever but the route was too far. He thinks it’s better to do it by car from Hagematten. Ah, it’s difficult to park your car, for the place is full. ‘I’ll park it in ‘Zwei Linden,’a tavern with two trees. But does it make any sense, it’s just a few metres to the place. People have often noticed he doesn’t walk or run as expected and takes his car, even though his destinations aren’t afar. It would have been good for his figure and belly, the gain in time, instead of jogging.
The moral of this story: a walk doesn’t damage your health. <i>(A Cautious Citizen)
</i>
<b>Tree in a House-On-Wheels</b>
Our mater-of-ceremonies has no problem,
His caravan can remain at the Nussi all the while,
For he works there the whole time.
But misfortune is on its way already,
On a windy, stormy day.
The tree made a hole suddenly,
As it fell on the caravan near the foyer.
The door caved in, the kitchen hung,
There was no place to cook a dish.
He can make it clear,
And wrings with words.
Without scorn and without rage,
He told his tale.
The moral at the end of the song?
He had to bring his caravan now to Oberried.
* * *

<b>The First Fire Brigade Excursion</b>
The firebrigade undertakes an excursion, that’s clear,
To Hamburg by train this early year.
In the journey there was a problem:
Two men wanted to smoke very badly.
But in the train there was no smoking compartment,
No wonder they muttered and complained.
Great minds think alike: they had an idea.
And went together to the loo.
The conductor caught them in flagranti,
And wanted to throw ’em out at full speed.
* * *
<b>Kindergarten Reconstruction</b>
I wanted to bring my small child
In January to the Kindergarten.
There were enough places, I was told.
But when I arrived it was a lie.
It wasn’t finished yet.
You can’t get in so fast.
They blame each other,
And the parents have no peace at home.
The crane stands still,
And the workers sit around,
I hope it doesn’t go on for long.
* * *

<b>The Hausmättle is not harvested</b>
Jokes aside,
In Kappel it’s easy,
As a farmer to get rid of your own grass.
Instead of leaving it,
To make hay as the sun shines,
They throw grass into the green container.
It’s loaded into the front-loading tractor.
When the green container’s full,
Don’t worry about it.
You can always get rid of your green cuttings
At the mountain farmer’s meadow.

<b>Baking Spring-Forms</b>
The hard-working Kappeler housewife
Wanted to bake a fine cake,
It can only be the Christmas-tree baron’s daughter,
She thought muffins can be baked speedily.
Ha! It might be fun,
And the dough was made,
Exactly after a recipe.
She used a modern spring-form,
Made of silikon.
With it things ‘ll be better,
And a good result is the reward.
The form was filled fast,
Put into the over at 200 degrees.
After an hour it was brown above 
And thoroughly baked.
Oh, the creation has to be tasted,
There’s no doubt about it,
But it crunched between the teeth,
As though it was sand.
She noticed that something was wrong
With the spring-form.
That’s the way it is,
When the daughter uses her sandform.
* * *
<b>Ominous Dimdig Valley</b>
The Kappeler went to ski in Switzerland
Since years its been cool.
A lot of things happened again,
What the Kappeler actually do.
The hunter had cursed,
For he was looking for his green crogs.
He didn’t find it.
They were at home under his bed.
Dela wanted to go to the ski slope,
But her handbag wasn’t there.
The way we know Ella,
She went down in the snow,
Like a wild hen.
They couldn’t find her for a long time.
Riesterer had taken her to Sanemöser.
The old boy wanted to go to bed late,
Went to the cellar,
Drank with his boy a couple of rounds.
Arthur then locked the door,
And the boy stood all night outside.
They thought about it long,
And even woke up Rita Löffler.
The moral of the story?
Don’t hide yourselves from Athur.
* * *
<b>Prowin Pizza</b>
Last night the bathing-mater’s son came home,
Was hungry and shoved a pizza in the oven.
He turned on the oven and wondered,
What a strange foil seemed inside.
Takes it out and puts it in.
In 10 minutes the pizza fro Prowin is ready.
The next morning Mom gets a shock,
Who’s done this silling thing?
The oven cleaner from Prowin
Was still in the oven.
He hadn’t noticed it,
For he’d been high on alcohol,
And eaten the whole pizza.
* * *


MGV-Kappel: Mann ist ganz Chor
Singen Sie unter der Dusche? Oder in der Badewanne? Warum singen Sie nicht auf der Bühne mit uns? Jeder männliche Stimme ist Willkommen. Nein, Sie brauchen keine Musiknoten lesen zu können. Bringen Sie bloß Lust zum singen mit. Wir laden Sie zu einer Schnupperprobe am 8.Mai um 20 Uhr mit einem Freibier. Wir proben immer Donnerstags um 20 Uhr in unserem Proberaum in der Kappler Sporthalle. Da unser letzter Projektchor ein großer Erfolg war, haben wir vom Männergesangverein-Kappel uns entschieden dieses Jahr wieder ein Chorprojekt am 8. Mai 2014 zu starten. Zum Abschluss gibt es ein Konzert am Samstag, den 26. Juli 2014 (letztes Wochenende vor den Sommerferien). Wir werden unter das Motto „Mann ist ganz Chor“ singen. Beim letzten Projektchor kamen neun junge Männer und acht sind geblieben und singen mit uns. Alter und Musikkenntnisse spielen keine Rolle. Das bringt der dynamische Dirigent Ihnen bei. Wir freuen uns wenn Sie einfach rein schauen und mitmachen. Denn singen setzt Glückshormone frei und Gesang bedeutet Freude. Vereinsmotto: In Freud und Leid zum Lied bereit. 
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                                        'Greek Wine' sung by parents at the Schauinsland school
                                               The lovely ladies of the Musikverein Kappel
                                 The male singers of the Männergesangverein Kappel 'Liederkranz'
MGV singers doing rehearsal inside the Gemeindehaus in Freiburg-Kappel
Christmas Concert in Kappel on December 26,2010

The Weihnachtskonzert was staged this time by the MGV Kappel and conducted by Johannes Söllner, and the Musikverein Freiburg-Kappel conducted by Manfred Preiß. The two vereins play host in alternating years. The concert began at 8pm in the Kappeler Festhalle. We did a last rehearsal in the media-room of the Schauinsland school in Kappel. Christel barged into the room and exclaimed, in a tearful voice, ‘The guests have started pouring in and there’s no one to greet them and take care of the tickets.’ That worked like a signal and we started to descend the stairs towards the Festhalle.

There were concert-guests taking off their thick winter overcoats, and helping their ladies out of their fur coats. The members of the musikverein were guests  gathered in the foyer. There was no chaos. Everything was under control.
The concert began with the Project Orchestra of the Musikverein conducted by Rainer Heuberger. They played popular instrumentals such as: Amazing Grace, the Pink Panther, My Romance, a Christmas medley, the Little Town of Bethlehem and Hawk. Most of the musicians were young boy barely in their teens, which is a good thing since there is a dearth of German youth in the singing and music choirs.

This time, we the Kappeler men’s choir, began with ‘Il est ne,le divin enfant´, a French song, followed by a beautiful yodel-song from Tyrole (Austria): ‘Andachtsjodler.’ The next song was the popular ‘Fröhliche Weihnacht überall’ which was originally a song from England.

Someone had absent-mindedly locked up the piano and the pianist started looking for the keys in his pockets and elsewhere. All the while under the scrutiny of a silent, tolerant audience. Perhaps they thought this was a gag, but it wasn’t. Finally Werner Walter asked the conductor who’d played the piano whether he had the keys. And voila! He had ’em in his raised left hand.

In such a constellation you have to have a few gospel and spiritual songs, and accordingly ‘Oh, Happy Day’ with Christoph Fuss as the lead singer, and ‘My Lord, What a Morning’ was sung to the delight of the audience.
 A song that conjoured up images of South Africa was ‘Aya Ngena’ sung in Swaheli by the Männergesangverein, and promises of peace in the Middle East with ‘Hora Jerusalem.’ The Hebrew accents that we’d learned all these weeks and the fast tempi of the song got the audience raving.

The Musikverein Freiburg-Kappel came up with a project-orchestra conducted by Rainer Heuberger for this special occasion. The repertoire had ‘Gaillarde’ Pierre d’ Attaignant’ with arrangements by Manu Mellaerts, ‘And the Mountains Echoed: Gloria’ by Robert Longfield. Then came ‘Der Zigeunerbaron’ composed by Johann Strauss and arranged by Akira Yodo. Another song is from the musical ‘Elizabeth’ composed by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay with arrangements by Johan de Meij, followed by ‘Czardas’ by Vittorio Monti and arranged by Jan Rypens. The solist was Felix Klein. The musical arrangements were rather long but there was variety in the pieces, so it wasn’t that bad.

The moderators were Klaus Suetterle for the MGV Kappel and Karin Peter, who had an East-Bloc accent, for the Musikverein Kappel. After the concert it was a comfortable get-together and Miteinander in the Festhalle and the bar downstairs. The day after the Festhalle was cleared of everything that resembled a concert hall. We did it with German thoroughness: pico bello. 
* * *
Freiburg Kappel
Satish Shroff versteht sich als ein Vermittler zwischen der westlichen und der östlichen Kultur und sieht seine Zukunft als Dozent, Dichter und Schriftsteller. Er ist auch ein aktives Mitglied dem Vorstand von dem Männergesangsverein (MGV) in Kappel.
Er hat sechs Bücher geschrieben: Im Schatten des Himalaya (Gedichte und Prosa), Through Nepalese Eyes (Reisebericht), Katmandu, Katmandu (Gedichte und Prosa mit Nepali autoren) Glacial Whispers (Gedichtesammlung zwischen 1997-2010). Er hat zwei Sprachführer im Auftrag von Horlemannverlag und Deutsche Stiftung für Entwicklungsdienst (DSE) für Auslandsmitarbeiter der GTZ, sowie Goethe Institut, DAAD, Carl Duisburg Gesellschaft etc. geschrieben. Satish Shroff hat mehrere Artikel in seiner ehemaligen Zeitung „The Rising Nepal“ über verschiedene Aspekte von Leben und Entwicklungen in Deutschland und Europa veröffentlicht.
Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYUvE5H7s6Y&feature=share
https://www.pinterest.de/pin/401805597990695750/ (This is about the organisers and participants of a successful Benefizkonzert (Charity Concert) in Freiburg-Kappel in the Schwarzwald, the friends friends he has made in the country of his choice Germany--and his fellow Nepalese in the diaspora. He hasn't forgotten his rich Nepalese cultural heritage. He lectures in German and English, sings songs in English, Nepali and German, paints in aquarelle and acryl colours and writes Zeitgeistlyrik.)
* * *
MGV-Kappel: In Freud und Leid zum Lied bereit
Gesang vermindert dunkle Sorgen (Horaz)
Der Gesang ist eine der schönsten Äußerungen des Menschen auf musikalischem Gebiet. Viele Menschen wollen gemeinsam im Chor singen. Beim gemeinschaftlichen Singen kommt viel Zusammen. Man kann sich selbst hören bei den Übungen, die anderen hören im Chor,, dann wieder alles im Zusammenklang im Konzert singen. Wir suchen die Harmonie and es gelingt beim gemeinschaftlichen singen.
Die Männerchöre gehen bis in die Zeit Karl Friedrich Zelters (1758-1832) zurück, der in Berlin die Liedertafel, eine Vereinigung von 24 Männern zur Pflege des Gesanges, gründete, die als Modell für alle späteren Männergesangvereine diente.
In Kappel hat Karl Fressle, der erster Vorsitzender des 1904 gegründeten Musikvereins Kappel, die initiativ ergriffen. Er wurde Vorsitzender von 1912 bis 1928 und er war es, der bei der Generalversammlung am 30.Mai 1920 den Vorschlag machte, eine Gesangsabteilung zu gründen. Der MGV-Kappel „Liederkranz“ existiert seit 1920 und 92 Jahre alt. In seiner kulturellen Bedeutung ist der MGV „Liederkranz“ ein wichtiger Bestandteil von Freiburg-Kappel.
Seit 1977 besteht eine Zusammenarbeit mit dem Musikverein Kappel und die alljährlich veranstaltete Weihnachtskonzert ist zu einem festen Programmpunkt etabliert. Außerdem haben hat der MGV-Kappel Kooperationen mit Chorvereinigung Hochdorf, Intermezzo Ihringen. Wir pflegen eine langjährigen Kontakt mit unseren Patenchor „Frohsinn“ Littenweiler und auch zu Heinz Heckmann, der letztes Jahr sein 85. Geburtstag feierte, wobei die musikalische Gestaltung von unser Patenchor „Frohsinn“ Littenweiler und der MGV-Kappel unter der Leitung von Sebastian Neumann veranstaltet wurde. Bei Feste in Kappel selbst bekommen wir gegenseitige Unterstützung von den örtlichen Vereine.
Der MGV_Kappel singt bei Altentagen, am Weißen Sonntag, beim Weihnachtsbasar, zu Weihnachten in der Kirche und viele anderen Anlässen in Kappel. Dass der MGV-Kappel eine aktive Sängerschaft ist, hat er schon längst bewiesen durch Ausflüge, „Ständerlesingen“ bei Geburtstagen und Jubiläen und vor allem die sängerische Begleitung eines verdienstvollen Mitglieds auf seinem letzten Gang zum Friedhof. Obwohl der MGV-Kappel sehr traditionsbewusst ist im Stadtteil Kappel, er dennoch offen für neue Impulse im Bezug auf seiner Gesangsrepertoire. Der Dirigent Johannes Söllner ist von Leipzig wieder nach Freiburg gezogen nach seiner musikalische Fortbildung dort und er gibt sein Beste in Kappel und Ihringen., wo er zwei Vereine dirigiert. Der MGV-Kappel singt nicht nur Deutsche Liedergut, sondern auch Liedern aus aller Welt (Englische Broadway-songs, Al Martino, spanische, russische, israeli, irische, afrikanische und lateinische Lieder.
Der MGV-Kappel hat bereits dieses Jahr eine Brauchtumsabend mit den Schauinsländer Berggeister mitgestaltet am 17.2.2012. Die Generalversammlung in Gasthaus Kreuz (Kappel) war am 2.3.2012. Weißer Sonntag wird es am 8.5.2012 geben. Der MGV tritt mit dem Kappeler Kindergarten St. Barbara im Marienstift am 20.5.2012. Eine Volkstümlicher Liederabend ist geplant am 26.5.2012, danach die Teilnahme an der Fronleichnamsprozession, gefolgt von geistliches Konzert mit Fahnenweihe am 23.6.2012. Bei der 50.jährige Jubiläum der Schauinslandschule am 23.6.2012 ist der MGV-Kappel auch dabei. Andere wichtige Termine sind Volkstrauertag am 18.11.2012 und das Weihnachtskonzert am 26.12.2012. Außerdem sollen Geburtsjubilare ihrem Wunsch entsprechend geehrt werden.
Der MGV „Liederkranz“ ist am Samstag, den 14.April 2012 zu Gast bei der Frühlingskonzert von Intermezzo Ihringen. Der MGV-Kappel singt: Evening Rise, S’ Herz, Heil Du Heilige Himmelskönigin, Good News, Sana Sana und Durchs Wiesental gang i. Der Konzert in Ihringen beginnt um 20:00 Uhr.
* * *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_GyHiRn_Yo&feature=share (Lied: Que, sera, sera)

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Frisch auf! Trekking in the Black Forest
For a week Freiburg became the capital city of the trekkers from all over Germany. There they were bearing their association or verein flags, banners, wearing their traditional costumes or trekking outfits singing traditional trekking songs called ‘Wanderlieder,’ because trekking is a way of life in the Alpine countries, and Freiburg and the Black Forest are no exception. They were all obliged to go through Freiburg’s Schwabentor, the gateway of the Swabians. I found the entire spectacle with olde, traditional costumes rather delightful and the trekkers who came to town rather friendly.
The participants were greeted by the minister for ecology Tanja Gönner at the elegant Concert House and the procession began at 2 pm along the Schwabentor. Last year 1,7 million trekkers took part in the treks organised by the vereine (associations). In Freiburg alone, you could take part in 100 treks with 300 trained-guides. 56 per cent of Germans say that walking in the countryside is one of their favourite pastimes. Even the health insurance companies recognise the Wanderverein’s decorations as a show of health performance and a desire to lead healthy lives. After all, men are ruled by toys, said Napoleon, and distributed medals to his troops for their performance and participation in many battles. In this case, it’s a peaceful jolly trekking, and the people are not out to conquer countries but hearts. The magic word is: Völkerverständigung. Aiming at the understanding between different ethnic folks. Even among the Germans you talk of Völkerverständigung because Germany is a cocktail of folks and dialects, despite Hitler’s attempt to make an Aryan race out of Germany. He himself was an Austrian. A Berliner, Saarbrücker, Bavarian, hamburger, Swabian, Badener and other Germans have all their own way os saying things, expressions, tongues and psyche too. No two Germans think alike, and it also depends on the strata of the society one is from. I like the ad about the hard-working Swabians: ‘Mir könnet alles, ausser Hochdeutsch,’ which means: we can do everything aside from speaking Standard German.’ It’s the upbringing in a local, dialect that causes linguistic faux pas in the company of others from other regions. 

 
You are greeted by the different verein groups with a hearty ‘Frisch auf!’ The area around Feldberg, which has the highest mountain, has subalpine vegetation. It is the desire of the verein to preserve our wonderful heimat, to develop it for future generations after the principle ‘Protection through Use’ by giving the people who work and live in the vicinity of the forests (alpine farmers, forest rangers, forest-workers) a means of subsistence. This is where the Schwarzwald association plays a vital role.

 

One of the delights of living in the three country triangle is that you can undertake walks in the Black Forest countryside, go across the river Rhine to the Vosges mountains in Alsace (France) and Hegau in the Lake Constance area. The Black Forest Association celebrated its 110th German Wanderer’s Day, a day in which you could go for walks in the countryside, and the towns and hamlets participating undertake part in the celebration offered cultural programmes. The motto was: Nature, Culture and Wanderung (trekking) belong together. Since Nature is intact in the Black Forest, culture has been raised to a higher level, it can be relished with all the senses.

 
The Schwarzwaldverein has 75,000 members divided into 239 groups with 23,000 kilometres of trekking routes that have been marked and are nursed. You can do long treks, regional treks and local travels with yellow rhombus signs to show you where to go en route, which give you a sense of security, reliability in order to reach your respective destination. The yellow rhombus on the trees shows you where you are, in which direction the next destination is, and how many kilometres. It also tells you where you can rest and refresh yourself.

 
The association also issues new updated trekking maps. Moreover, the Schwarzwaldverein is accredited as an official Nature conservation association according to paragraph 29 of the Bundesnaturschutz law, and also protects wild areas, wild animals and plants. The Heimat and Trekking Academy Baden Württemberg co-operates with the Black Forest and Swabian Albverein, and educated and trains trekking-guides. There are over 700 certified guides. The Schwarzwaldverein also promotes variety in the trekking and cultural programmes. It also runs 25 trekking homes, where you can eat, drink and sleep, and is also responsible for the 67 wildlife observation towers. Additionally, it promotes Germany’s youth, and nordic walking  and biking routes in the mountain trails.
In order to promote tourism, a special card has been introduced for the Black Forest with which you can use the bus, streetcar and the train, which is unique in Europe. Other European nations should also follow this innovative example, to make getting around easy in the Alpine countries.

 
‘What’s the Black Forest?’ you might ask. It is our dark, green homeland and is the biggest chain of the middle mountains in Germany. If you want to traverse the entire mountain ranges, you can do it from the ‘Gold-City’ Pforzheim in the north over 280 km to the historical town of Basle (Switzerland) along the High-Rhine to the south.

 
The mountains to the east and west of the geological faults that we call the Vosges and the Black Forest, have arisen almost 1500 metres. The stretch of land which is the Upper Rhine Rift through which the Rhine flows today crumbled, thereby creating the present geological formation. A great part of the Northern Black Forest is composed of mixed sandstone and is not good for agricultural purposes. The Middle and Southern Schwarzwald mountains have hummocky topography which makes it easier to cultivate and ideal for settlements.

 
Whereas the Romans didn’t find this area interesting due to geo-political reasons, settlements began to grow in the 8th and 10th century in the Black Forest mountains, valleys and spurs, The first houses were the cloisters. In the Middle Ages the Schwarzwald was known for its silver and lead mines. The burning ovens in the Neuenburger area show that even in the Celtic times iron was an important ore. The spas (thermal baths) of Baden Baden, Badenweiler, Bad Krözing, Bad Bellingen use the healing wetness which comes from the mountains. A combination of a mild climate, fresh mountain air make a lot of places in the Black Forest mountains ideal for reconvalescence of people with pulmonary illnesses (Kurorte). The Schwarzwald, Black Forest or Foret Noir, as the name suggests, is made of pine and beech forests. During the early industrialisation, a big part of the forests were used for producing charcoal, glass-manufacture, mining for ores, and wood for home-fires needed in the bigger towns of Freiburg and Basle. When the forests were denuded, spruce saplings were planted which changed the face of the Black Forest to its present form.

 
Why do people seek the Waldeinsamkeit, the stillness of the forest? The answer lies perhaps in a poem penned by L. Tieck. It crops up at the beginning at the end of a stanza. Tieck uses this in varying form thrice in his story ‘The blond Eckbert.’ The opening lines of poem no. 5 in Eichendorff’s cycle ‘Der Umkehrende’ runs thus:
 

WaldeinsamkeitDu grüne Review…

* * *
THE SEASONS (Satis Shroff)
SUMMER
It’s Summer where moist southern winds prevail.
Your body, mind and spirit,
Are one with Nature.
The flowers bloom and cherries get ripe,
‘Kaphal pakyo, kaphal pakyo,’
Sings a a bird.
The day lengthens
And the clouds cannot hide the Surya.
Soon great clouds bring rain.
Indra gives his blessing:
Monsoon.
A gift to many,
A curse for few.
The sun shines now
And the leaves sag.
The frogs dive in the pond,
The dragon fly hovers awhile.
There’s life and beauty in this transient world.
Summer brings enduring happiness
To one and all,
When trees blossom and bear fruit.
The paddy planting season is over
In the Vale of Catmandu.
The Newari  jyapu farmers sing songs
And rejoice.
The sun fills our lives with light,
Positive thoughts prevail.
The wonderful scent of the roses,
Butterflies dancing over Himalayan orchids.
Your fingers touch and feel
The silkiness of the rose petals.
People sing in praise of the cow for eight days.
The holy cows of Catmandu wear garlands.
The prayer wheel turns unceasingly,
O cry with me.
** * *

AUTUMN
Chilly Autumn arrives soon enough,
The summer flowers,
Those dear friends have gone.
Asters and chrysanthemums still greet us.
People celebrate the festival of lights,
In honour of Goddess Lakshmi.
Even the common crow is worshipped this day.
For the crow is the messenger of Death,
To the Hindus: Yamadoot.
Another day the dog is garlanded and revered,
For he is Bhairab’s steed.
The third day of Tihar belongs to the cow,
The reincarnation of Lakshmi.
If you beat a cow you might be punished
With a life in poverty.
The fruits are ripe now,
Waiting to be harvested.
The sun’s rays become mellow.
The leaves turn golden, russet, brown.
The paths are strewn with dead leaves.
We reflect about our own lives.
The dying leaves,
A metaphor of your short existence,
On this beautiful earth.
* **

With splendor of Summer gone,
We become thoughtful and melancholic.
What has fate in store for us?
In this epoch of Kali Yuga,
Wealth has become the personification
Of success and career.
If the Gurkha survives he comes home,
With presents for his family.
Others remain cremated in foreign lands.
Nothing endures in the cycle of life.
We come, grow up, live our lives
And go.
Thereby making place for others.
Akin to the sunflower that ripens,
Provides shade and seeds,
Follows the whims of the sun,
And wilts.
Even green leaves die.
The wheel of life waits for no one,
O,  cry with me.
** * *

WINTER
The sky is sunless,
The tree branches look like emaciated humans,
Hands reaching for the sky,
In poses of suspended animation.
The nights are cold and dark,
All seems lifeless, dead, buried,
Beneath the white snow.
No bird sings.
Misty mountains veiled,
With dampness everywhere.
The cold makes the people remain indoors.
Winter means respite,
A time for solitude and contemplation.
Read books, watch DVDs, tell tales,
Time for Kaffeekranz elsewhere,
With the family or friends.
* * *

SPRING
Hush, life is merely asleep outside.
Come Spring and life blooms,
In the meadows, in the woods and gardens.
Worms start tilling the earth.
Even in the cold and darkness of winter,
There are faint signs of life,
In the microcosmos off the beaten path.
Prakriti is regenerating,
Despite the onslaught of the elements:
Snow, wind and rain.
Nature survives and we gather hope.
The old Tibetan wheel turns eternally,
O rejoice with me.
© 2015, satisshroff, all rights reserved

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European Culture:


(The ladies from Interzeoo Ihringen & members of the MGV-Kappel)

Geistliche Konzert: From Evening Rise to Hine Ma Tov (Satis Shroff)

Man soll alle Tage wenigstens
Ein kleines Lied hören,
Ein gutes Gedicht lesen,
Ein treffliches Gemälde sehen und,
Wenn es möglich zu machen wäre,
Einige vernünftige Worte sprechen.
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

It was a lovely evening in Kappel’s graveyard on one of those green benches and looking at the three big trees where a lot of birds were twittering and chirping, coming home to roost. You could discern the water sprout of a nearby fountain with the water splashing incessantly. Tits and finches were flying about on the tree tops. I heard heavy steps and saw the anticipated faces of the members of our men’s choir.

I greeted them with ‘Grüß Gott die Herren!’ and was greeted by smiling faces, all wearing the choir uniform, ties studded with myriads of lyras, white shirts, black shoes and trousers and cobalt blue blazers. Reminded my of the Brit school I went to in my schooldays in the foothills of the Himalayas.

This time we had another motto: geistliche Musik aus aller Welt, that is, spiritual music from all over the world. This time our guests were Intermezzo Ihringen, yes Ihringen, the sunniest place in Germany and excellent wines.

We sang ‘Evening Rise,’ which is a Native American song, in German together with or guests from Intermezzo Ihringen, which is a mixed choir. The audience was advised not to applaud after every song but at the end.

The joy and fascination of singing comes like a sea-wave when you sing in a choir, and takes you away. We sing songs from different parts of the world, and every language has language brings its own rules, regulations and pecularities. Russian words as in ‘Tabie pajom’ are pronounced in a gutteral manner, with a lot of ‘sch’ thrown in, and the Israeli song ‘Hora Jerusalem’ with a lot of volume, whereas the song from Botswana ‘Sana Sananina’ demands a tip of the tongue, hissing intonation.

Thomas Carlyle put it aptly when he said: Music is appropriately termed as the language of the angels. In this context ‘Näher mein Gott, zu Dir’ and ‘Heil dir, heilige Himmelskönigin’ give you a prelude to what Heaven, paradise, Swarga can be like.

Music is the common language of human beings, said Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. As we grow older, the physical state of the body becomes involved in a breakdown but our souls remain young. The soul becomes wiser through all the life experiences. What the elderly singer doesn’t have, in terms of spontaneous and dynamic explosive actions of the youth and strength, is compensated by the experience of the elderly. He’s been-there-and done-it already. The young and the elderly in a choir become a common strength. Singing brings joy and happiness to us. We receive what we give to the audience in terms of applause and recognition, for the songs evoke emotions. 

We from the MGV-Kappel sang a song composed by L. Mason and arranged by our common conductor Johannes Söllner: ‘Näher mein Gott’, which I knew as ‘Nearer to Thee’ from my school days, which was sung during a retreat in the woods where we were obliged to write resolution on pieces of paper and then burn them in the end. Our second song was ‘Tebje payom’ by D. Bortnyansky.

This was followed by a Mongolian song sung by Mrs. Schneider who hails from Ulan bator.

Intermezzo Ihringen sang ‘Weit Weg’ by H. von Goisern, followed by G. Sutherland’s ‘Sailing,’ made famous by  Rod Stewart.

Since Christian Kohler couldn’t make it, the orgel-improvisation was done by Robert Klöckner, a lanky, bespectacled guy, who plays the orgel in neighbouring Ebnet and studies Music as a Freshman.

We then sang two songs: ‘Sancta Maria,’ a slow song with feeling, followed by ‘Heil dir, Heil’ge Himmelskönigin’, an spiritual from England.

Another Mongolian song came thereafter, which evoked images of the vast Stepplands because the singer shouted in her songs. It was delightful to hear her and her headgear and golden costume reminded me of Tibetan festive clothes. The Mongolians are Buddhists too, despite the long years of Soviet rule.

Intermezzo Ihringen then brought groove to the evening and  sang ‘Swing Low’, a spiritual followed by ‘Didn’t my Lord Deliver Daniel’, a gospel song.

Robert Klöckner played his orgel-improvisations for the second time.

After that we sang ‘Hine ma tov,’ a popular song from Israel, followed by ‘Good News’, a gospel song with the theme ‘chariots are coming’ and threatening to destroy a folk that is on the run. Then came ‘Hora Jerusalem,’ another well-known song from Israel. The applause was thunderous.

 The encore song was, as usual, the German version of ‘The Rivers of Babylon.’

After the concert, we all went over to the Gemeindehaus, a wooden house built in the Schwarzwald-style, where we drank beer, wine, ate brezeln and other German dishes like sausages and steaks, as is the custom, and talked animatedly late into the night.

* * *


Standort: Freiburg im Breisgau, Deutschland

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