Performance Impressions at Herderkirche in Weimar, Germany

The Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir had a wonderful performance at Herderkirche in Weimar, Germany on Saturday, June 7, 2014. Please have a look at the pictures below taken by Ann Buenger:

Your venue at Traukirche where J.S. Back got married on June 8, 2014

The small town of Dornheim in Thuringia has a interesting history. In the mid 12th Century the St. Bartholomäus Kirche was built. Today, the tower and west wall from the original construction time are still preserved. After extensive restorations the church was opened again in 1999 and it is well known for its wonderful acoustic. Therefore many concerts are held throughout the year.

It was also the place where famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara in October 17, 1707. Many tourists come to Dornheim to take a look at the J.S. Back's wedding church.

The Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir is going to perform at this magnificent church on Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 7:30 pm.

Performing in one of Luther's and Goethe's most favorite city - Dessau (Germany)

Johanniskirche (St. Johannis) is a baroque Lutheran church located in the city center of Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, a city with breathtaking architecture and landscape. Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was moved by his visit to Dessau in 1778:

“As we wandered among the lakes, canals and forests yesterday evening, I was deeply moved by the way in which the gods had allowed the Prince to create all around him a dream.”

In July 28, 1688 Prince Johann Georg II. granted the Lutheran community in Dessau the permit to build their own church. Cornelius Ryckwaert, a Dutch architect, started to construct the church and master builder Martin Grünberg from Berlin was responsible for the construction project.
In May 2, 1702 the church opened its doors to the public. In 1944 during World War II it was destroyed almost completely but built up again in 1955.

Martin Luther often visited the city of Dessau to preach to the community. His most important visit was in 1534, during which he offered Communion to the people on the Thursday before Easter.

The Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir is going to perform at Johanniskirche in Dessau on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Your Recital in Berlin's Largest Protestant Church

The Cathedral of Berlin (German: Berliner Dom), completed in 1905, is Berlin’s largest and most important Protestant church as well as the tomb of the Prussian Hohenzollern dynasty.

This outstanding high-renaissance baroque monument has linked the Hohenzollerns to German Protestantism for centuries and undergone renewed phases of architectural renovation since the Middle Ages.
First built in 1465 as a parish church on the Spree River it was only finally completed in 1905 under the last German Kaiser -Wilhelm II. Damaged during the Second World War it remained closed and finally reopened after restoration in 1993.

Reaching out well beyond the borders of the parish and of Berlin, the cathedral attracts thousands of visitors, year after year, from Germany and abroad. It is located close to the famous Museum Island borough.                                            

The Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir is going to have a recital at this stunning cathedral on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 11:30 am.


Picture on the right side, copyright Maren Glockner

Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir at Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany

Incantato Tours is proud to announce the Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir Performance at the magnificent Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany on Monday, June 9, 2014 at noon.

The great Thomaskirche is one of the main highlights of Leipzig, a town many refer to as the “City of Music.”
Thomaskirche houses many renowned musicians, including the Boys Choir, as well as the final resting place of the grand composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Today people come from all over the world to the Church of St. Thomas to experience church services, unique performances from the Boys Choir and the Gewandhaus Orchestra, as well as intricate organ concerts.

The church once served as a critical pawn during the Christian Reformation, as Martin Luther often preached in the 12th century church. In 1355 the original Romanesque chancel was remodeled in a Gothic scheme, coinciding with the congregation’s split from the Roman Catholic Church.
Johann Sebastian Bach served as the choir director at Thomaskirche from 1723 until his death in 1750. A statue of Bach standing outside the church’s entrance was dedicated in the composer’s memory in 1908. Although renovations in the mid-1800s resulted in the removal of all Baroque equipment, a commemorative Bach organ, in the style of the original used by Bach, was installed in the sanctuary in 2000. The older romantic organ also remains, but is considered “unsuitable” for playing Bach’s music and is only used when appropriate.
The roof’s unusual 63 degree angle and sanctuary’s intricately designed vaulted ceilings result in unbelievable acoustics and highly complimentary reverberation.

St. Georg - your venue in Mellingen, Germany

Incantato Tours is happy to announce that the Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir is going to be the feature choir for mass at St. Georg Church on Sunday, June 8, 2014 in Mellingen, Germany.

St. Georg is a protestant church located in the village of Mellingen. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful village churches in Thuringia due to its magnificent baroque pulpit. Even famous artist such as the German-American painter Lyonel Feininger used the beautiful church as motive for their art.

The first time St. Georg was officially named in a priest's letter was in 1282. At that time, there were two churches in the city of Mellingen - St. Michael and St. Georg. Due to the reformation both churches were joint together to St. Georg.

Town Church of St. Peter and Paul (Herderkirche) in Weimar, Germany

The Mountain View Presbyterian Church Choir is going to perform on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 6:00 pm at Town Church of St Peter and Paul.

The church popularly know as "Herderkirche" which gets the nickname from Johann Gottfried Herder. Between 1776 and 1803, Johann Gottfried Herder was the general superintendent and vicar at the Town Church and the people of Weimar also called the church the "Herder Church". 

The church is considered to be the most important church building in Weimar. The original church was built on the same spot from 1245 to 1249 and was then destroyed by fire in 1299 of which only the foundation remained. The foundations are among the oldest building sections in the town. Then a second building was then destroyed by fire 1424.  The current church which is a three-aisled hall church in late Gothic style. The church was built between 1498 and 1500.  Towards the end of the Second World War the damaged by bombs on February 9, 1945.  Restoration continued through 1977.  

Since 1998, the church and the Herder House have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Classicist Weimar" ensemble of monuments.