SACRED MUSIC AT HAUPTKIRCHE ST. PETRI, HAMBURG

St. Petri is the oldest of the five principal churches of Hamburg. This venerable building, situated in the centre of the city next to the market and the town hall, was first officially mentioned in records in 1195. Sacred music has been a distinguished tradition in this fine building, with its four naves, going back for many centuries. Indeed, a cantor of St. Petri was officially documented as early as 1517. During its long history many famous organ builders and church musicians have worked here including Telemann and C.P.E. Bach.

HAMBURGER BACHCHOR ST. PETRI

Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew and St. John Passions, Christmas Oratorio, motets, masses and cantatas, are central to the work of the Hamburger Bachchor St. Petri. The Choir also performs many other well known works such as Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and “St. Paul”, Brahms’s and Mozart’s Requiems, and some rarely heard compositions such as the oratorios of Herzogenberg and “L’Enfance du Christ” of Berlioz. A cappella repertoire is also important to the Hamburger Bachchor, covering a wide range from the late renaissance, through the most important German motets of the romantic era, including those of Mendelssohn, Brahms, Wolf, Bruckner and Reger, to the 20th century composers like Britten, Duruflé and Martin. Unusual for Germany is the Choir’s interest in English choral music.

The Hamburger Bachchor is well known for the quality and variety of its singing in church services. The procession of the robed choir at the beginning and the end of the Sunday services, the singing of Gregorian Introits, and of varied motets and cantatas, make the services in St. Petri particularly uplifting experiences. There are also many highlights during the year, including the Easter Eve Celebration, the Christmas Midnight Candlelight Service, and the St. Ansgar Vespers, which has been presented for more than forty years by choirs representing three different denominations. The Choir regularly makes concert visits abroad and has performed in England, France, North and South America, Japan and Egypt. New members are always welcome. Anyone interested should be able to read music and have choral experience. A successful audition is a prerequisite for membership.

FREUNDESKREIS DER KIRCHENMUSIK AN DER HAUPTKIRCHE ST. PETRI

The Freundeskreis der Kirchenmusik an der Hauptkirche St. Petri helps underwrite the expensive performances of major works, and is always grateful for new members. (Contact: Joachim Flecks, Tel. 040/36 92-45 70)

COLLEGIUM VOCALE ST. PETRI

The Collegium vocale St. Petri was founded in 2000 by retired members of the Hamburger Bachchor. Led by Cornelius Trantow the choir performs a wide range of demanding works in its concerts. (Contact: Elke Wulf, Tel. 04103/821 07)

COLLEGIUM MUSICUM ST. PETRI

The Collegium musicum St. Petri is the string orchestra of the parish. This ensemble consists of professional and qualified amateur musicians, and accompanies most of the oratorio concerts and cantata services of the Hamburger Bachchor. The orchestra also gives its own instrumental concerts. 

HAMBURGER KINDER- UND JUGENDKANTOREI

The Hamburger Kinder- und Jugendkantorei St. Petri/St. Katharinen gives children from the age of four the opportunity to sing in one of five age-appropriate groups. They are led by Sabine Paap, who studied church music and extended her knowledge of children’s choirs under Rolf Schweizer, Karl-Peter Chilla and Friedhilde Trüün. (Contact: Sabine Paap, Tel. 040/85 18 79 77 and kinderchor@sankt-petri.de)

ORGANS

St. Petri has three organs from the workshop of Rudolf von Beckerath. The present main organ has four manuals, 66 stops and 4,724 pipes. It is one of the largest and most beautiful sounding organs in Hamburg. It can be heard during services, the weekly “Hour of Church Music” and the summer series of international organ concerts. The restoration and extension of the present organ was completed in 2006 by Alexander Schuke Orgelbau, Potsdam. The two smaller organs were also recently renovated by Hans-Ulrich Erbslöh.

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AND ASSISTANT

KMD Thomas Dahl was appointed director of music of St. Petri in 1996. He studied sacred music, composition, music pedagogy, organ and musicology in Hamburg, Stuttgart, Paris and Chicago (organ with Wunderlich, Laukvik, Bezler, Roth and Rübsam; conducting with Vetter, Kurz and Wolf).

The post of assistent to the director of music has been filled by Jonas Kannenberg since September 2009. He is currently studying church music at the Hamburg School of Music (organ with Jan Ernst, improvisation with Rainer Michael Munz, conducting with Hannelotte Pardall).

FURTHER INFORMATION

For information about musical events please take a look at the annual music schedule, the regular parish letter “Mittendrin”, or at our  Konzertkalender and www.hamburger-bachchor.de. Further information about the music schedule, or about participating in the music program at St. Petri, is available from the church office. (Tel. 040/32 57 40-0, email: info@sankt-petri.de)