Remember the mid-‘90s American infomercial of BBC’s language learning video series Muzzy? The female announcer said of the children watching one of the videos in the background, “That’s French they’re speaking, but those children aren’t French; they’re American.”
If I were to reword the announcer’s words regarding the kids from the Classical Christian school in Monroe, Louisiana - Geneva Academy - that’s German they are singing. But neither one of those upper middle and high schoolers are trained in the great British choirs (such as King’s College alumni Charles Daniels and Michael Chance) nor are aspiring to pursue early music degrees at Schola Cantorum Basilinesis when they grow up.
They are American kids who have varying aspirations, trained in the Kodály music education method.
Watch now | Geneva Academy Youth Sing Bach's "A Mighty Fortress" Cantata - I have found there is no better instructor than the singing of Ba
Though this article is primarily geared towards classical Christian schools, you neither have to be a choral director of one nor be a student to learn something from Jarrod Richey’s article! It’s worth a read!
And I’m hoping that anyone of you classical music-loving Tumblrions in the Northeastern Louisiana area (or are moving there) would form a historically-informed practice (HIP) ensemble. Maybe those above kids could sing with it in the near future…
Speaking of Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80, here’s a professional performance of this Bach cantata. The now-passed concert featured modern instruments and a female mezzo-soprano in the alto-tenor duet. However, this below video features replicas of the 18th century predecessors of the modern instruments the Monroe Symphony Orchestra played upon. The alto in the duet is a male countertenor.
Happy listening and watching!
Choir and Orchestra of the J. S. Bach Foundation
Rudolf Lutz - Conductor
Soloists:
Soprano: Dorothee Mields
Countertenor: Terry Wey
Tenor: Bernhard Berchtold
Bass: Klaus Mertens
