Melkendorf singing memorial
The singing memorial is a memorial of the Franconian Singing Association near the Upper Franconian town of Melkendorf ( Bamberg district ).
location
The singing memorial is located on the wooded Hahnberg and offers a wide view of the Ellertal , the municipality of Litzendorf and the city of Bamberg .
investment
The memorial consists of twelve sand-lime stone pillars and is the only memorial for singers in Germany. The twelve columns are four meters high and grouped around a sarcophagus-like altar over an area of 20 by 16 meters . The twelve pillars symbolize the twelve singing circles of the Franconian Singing Association at that time . The names of the singers' circles are attached to the outside of the pillars.
The altar encloses a steel cabinet in which three copper boxes are to be kept. A book should be kept in it, in which the names of the fallen are recorded.
The following Latin inscription is written on a plaque at the altar:
- " Mortui vivimus "
- ( We dead live. )
history
Originally, a weekend house was to be built on the Hohe Hahn - a nose of the Geisberg protruding far into the valley. But Franz Seuling, who was the choirmaster of the “Liedertafel” in Melkendorf at that time, refused and suggested in return - under the impressions of the Second World War - to erect a memorial for all deceased singers of the two world wars. Walter Heinlein, a young architect, designed the model of a round temple. Seuling opened the round and thus created the semicircle of the twelve columns, which open to the southeast and surrounds the altar in its center. Twelve books of honor are kept in the altar.
Work began on November 15, 1952. Between 1953 and 1954, stones were broken and hewn and then transported up the steep mountain by horse and cow carts. Donors made the area available free of charge. Around 7,000 DM were raised in donations in kind and money, and even the power line to the memorial was laid for free. On March 8, 1953, the foundation stone was laid in the presence of the first federal chairman of the singer association . After about 6,000 hours of work, the honorary singing memorial was inaugurated on July 26, 1954. The song association Liedertafel Melkendorf committed itself to hold a memorial service at the memorial every year.
literature
- Journal: "The Voice of Franconia", Volume 26, Issue 6, 1960, Page 164
Web links
- www.fsb-online.de (page of the singers 'association on the singers' honorary memorial )
- www.litzendorf.de (website of the community Litzendorf on the singing memorial)
- gv-burgebrach.de