Weber, Huntsmen’s Chorus

I had planned to spend part of this fall in Germany, once again soaking up the local culture, but other events intervened. I first went to Germany courtesy of the U.S. Army and was assigned the task of performing with the band at virtually every local festival in Bavaria. That must be an exaggeration since there are too many festivals for one band to cover. The Army had more bands, but mine was the only one in Bavaria.

We encountered lots of local German bands playing tradition oom-pah music. That kind of music is unfortunately harder to find these days. Pop styles and amplification have sidelined the community bands.

The Germans have another musical tradition of men’s singing ensembles called Männerchor. They became popular in the 18th century as a social outlet for men after a hard day’s labor. Many cities and towns in the United States can boast a Männerchor as well. The tradition arrived with German settlers and took root particularly in Pennsylvania and surrounding regions.

Of course, men’s choirs can be found in many cultures, but they often focus their repertoire on the local geography, folklore, and patriotism. This tradition in Germany is also dwindling, much like the local bands.

Hunting season, now underway, brings many of those themes together: nature, local traditions, and men. I do not hunt and, yes, I know some women do. And yes, I know some people object to hunting. But never mind all that. The hunt shows up as a theme in many classical works, none more famous than Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz. In the Huntsmen’s Chorus from that opera, the men celebrate the joys of manhood.

Look at the faces of the singers. Manhood is too seldom celebrated these days, so allow us this opportunity.