Perspectives (choir)
| Perspectives | |
|---|---|
| Seat: | Wetzlar / Germany |
| Founding: | 1987 |
| Genus: | mixed choir |
| Founder: | Jochen Rieger |
| Head : | Jochen Rieger (until 2007); Dirk Menger (since 2008) |
| Voices : | approx. 20 ( SATB ) |
Perspektiven is an evangelical choir that sings Christian pop music and has its roots in the youth choir movement .
history
The choir was founded in 1987 by music producer Jochen Rieger . Some of its singers were recruited from the Wetzlar youth choir , which Jochen Rieger had previously taken over from Margret Birkenfeld . Perspektiven saw itself as a progressive choir and integrated, among other things, choreographic elements into the performances. In 1990 the first album Praise And Joy was released with songs of praise for choral music. In the following years the choir played other concept ideas such as Living Psalms with psalm settings suitable for choirs and gospel projectsa. During this time, the choir toured the whole of Germany, Switzerland , Austria and Israel with up to 25 concerts a year .
In 1993 the choir was expanded to include a small live band. Matthias Herrmann first played the bass, Karsten Hellhund took over the drums and percussion and Jochen Rieger played the keyboard himself before Peter Menger took over this part . At the end of the 1990s, Dirk Menger took over from Matthias Herrmann on bass. After his brother Peter had to quit for personal reasons, Dirk Menger took over the keyboard. Since there was no bass player, Karsten Hellhund devoted himself more and more to the percussion (especially the cajon). Even today the band still consists of Dirk Menger on keyboards and Karsten Hellhund on percussion.
At the end of the 1990s, Jochen Rieger began to work increasingly on interactive concepts to support the practice of choral work in churches and parishes. The flattening youth choir movement should be re-motivated with thematically focused productions such as New Perspectives as well as extensive accompanying material from sheet music, stage directions and moderation suggestions to playback CD . Furthermore, the Perspectives campaigned for the integration of gospel in worship and the promotion of gospel choirs. In 2003 and 2005 they published two gospel projects together with a project choir, ChorSound , which was put together especially for this purpose from nationwide interested singers .
Today Perspektiven consists of a choir with a live band. Dirk Menger has been conducting the choir since 2008.
Trivia
- Choir director Dirk Menger is also a member of Samuel Harfst's band
Discography
- Praise and Joy. ( Schulte & Gerth , 1990)
- Expressions. (Guest appearance on instrumental album; Schulte & Gerth , 1990)
- Perspectives. ( Schulte & Gerth , 1991)
- Jewels of Christian choral music. (Sampler; Schulte & Gerth , 1992)
- Day By Day: White Gospel. ( Schulte & Gerth , 1994)
- I want to lift you up Living psalms. ( Schulte & Gerth , 1994)
- Sing of joy. Living psalms. ( Schulte & Gerth , 1995)
- New perspectives. ( Schulte & Gerth , 1999)
- Hope for tomorrow. (Sampler; Schulte & Gerth , 2000)
- The stars light up the night. ( Schulte & Gerth , 2000)
- Gospel highlights. (Sampler; Gerth Medien , 2002)
- Freedom. ( Gerth Media , 2003)
- Choir sound. ( Gerth Media , 2003)
- God's light shines in hearts. ( Gerth Media , 2003)
- Thank you Jesus. ( Gerth Media , 2004)
- Choir Fire. ( Gerth Media , 2005)
- Living psalms. (Sampler; Gerth Medien , 2005)
- Great moments. ( Gerth Media , 2006)
- Musical encounters with Dietrich Bonhoeffer . ( Gerth Media , 2006)
- My favorite Christmas carol. Celebrities and their favorite Christmas song. (Compilation; Gerth Medien , 2006)
- Love is the greatest. ( Gerth Media , 2007)
- Faith and Hope, Volume 1. (Sampler; Gerth Medien , 2006)
Web links
- Homepage of the perspectives
- Works of Perspectives in the German National Library
- Homepage of Dirk Menger (choir director)