Zelter badge
The Zelter badge was donated in 1956 by Federal President Theodor Heuss as a state award to honor choir associations that have made a name for themselves in choral music and folk song. It was designed by the Cologne sculptor Heribert Calleen .
history
As early as 1909, the Berliner Liedertafel , a men's choir founded by Carl Friedrich Zelter in 1884 , donated a Zelter plaque for services to German men's singing. Both individuals and corporations were honored (first the city of Berlin, also the German Singers' Association, last in 1930 the Erfurt Men's Choir). The history of the Zelter badge as a state award goes back to the 1920s . The for the needs of amateur music minded Prussian Minister of Science, Art and Education, Otto Boelitz , donated by Circular in 1922 three artistically designed commemorative sheets as state recognition for amateur choirs celebrate its 50-, 75- and 100-year existence. A few years later the memorial leaves were replaced by plaques in bronze, silver and gold. These Zelter plaques were awarded until the beginning of 1942.
During the reconstruction after the war, the German Choir Association took the initiative to revive the Zelter badge as state recognition for long-term efforts and special achievements in the field of choral singing.
On August 7, 1956, Federal President Heuss signed the decree that stipulates that the Zelter plaque will be awarded again in recognition of the 100th anniversary of a choir. The opening words of the decree read:
“I donate the Zelter plaque as an award for choir associations that have made special contributions to the maintenance of choral music and German folk songs and thus to the promotion of cultural life . The details of the award are determined by special guidelines "
Guidelines
The guidelines for awarding the Zelter badge were most recently revised by a decree of the Federal President of November 19, 2014 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 1761 ).
Foundation purpose
The Zelter badge is intended as an award for choir associations that have made special merits in the care of choral music and German folk songs and thus in promoting cultural life.
Appearance and texture
The badge is oval, has the dimensions: 16 cm (height) × 14 cm (width) and is made of bronze . It shows on its front the portrait of Carl Friedrich Zelter (1758–1832), founder of the first Liedertafel and director of the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin , and on the reverse the federal eagle with the inscription: For merits to choral singing and folk song .
Eligibility for proposals and application process
The right to make proposals, which should lead to the award of the Zelter plaque, must be provided by the responsible state minister of culture of the states based on a recommendation from the respective recommendation committees. These proposals are then to be forwarded to the Federal Minister of the Interior, who submits them to the Federal President for a decision. Applications must be submitted in writing to the recommendation committee (or the state ministry or the diplomatic or consular representation) by June 30th of the year. An official form must be used for this. In addition to the application, documents must be attached that reflect the choir's activities in the field of musical or popular values over the past five years.
Award practice
The Zelter badge is awarded by the Federal President on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of a choir association, but only on application. The prerequisite for the award is the proof that the choir has dedicated itself to the cultivation of choral singing in serious and successful musical work and has acquired artistic or popular education services within the framework of the local conditions. In particular, the activity of the choir association in the five years prior to the application is authoritative and must be recognized accordingly. The plaque is traditionally presented on Sunday Laetare three weeks before Easter in a central ceremony by the Federal President or his representative (State Minister of Culture) together with a certificate.
Excellent choirs (selection)
- Academic Choral Society Munich
- Berlin Oratorio Choir
- Choir of St. Boniface (Wiesbaden)
- Concert choir of the Goethegymnasium / Rutheneum Gera
- St. Ulrich choir
- Concert Society Bad Kreuznach
- Kreuznacher Diakonie Kantorei
- Mannheimer Liedertafel
- Symphonic Choir Aachen
- Sing-Akademie zu Berlin
- Singakademie Frankfurt (Oder)
- Robert Franz Singing Academy
- Musikverein Kaiserslautern 1840 e. V.
- Mainz court singer
- Singers Arion
- Singers at St. Pauli Jena et Burgundia Breslau in Münster
- Student Music Association Blue Singers Göttingen
- Men's choir Radebeul Liederkranz 1844
- Municipal music association in Düsseldorf
Awarded to foreign choirs
The Zelter badge can also be awarded to choir associations abroad. The proposals for this are submitted by the Foreign Office based on the recommendation of the Committee of Recommendations. However, the applications must first be submitted to the competent German diplomatic mission there. These applications are then forwarded to the Federal Minister of the Interior via the Foreign Office. The official representation of the Federal Republic of Germany in the country concerned will then hand over the certificate and sticker.
Others
According to the Federal Association of German Choir Associations e. V. were awarded a total of 9,755 Zelter plaques between 1957 and 2002, including 60 plaques to choirs abroad. In 2009 the plaque was awarded to 133 choirs. A comparable award for music associations is the Pro-Musica badge .
literature
- Franz Spath: The Office of the Federal President . 3. Edition. Droste Verlag, Düsseldorf 1982, p. 97.
Web links
- Information from the Federal Office of Administration about the Zelter badge
- Text of the decree on the foundation of the Zelter plaque
- Federal Association of German Choir Associations
Individual evidence
- ^ Günter Ziesemer: On the history of the Zelter plaque , in: Lied und Chor. Journal for the entire choir. Official organ of the German Singers Association , October 2004
- ↑ a b Guidelines for awarding the Zelter badge, point 1, Federal Law Gazette No. 39 of August 14, 1956.
- ↑ Guidelines for awarding the Zelter badge, point 3, Federal Law Gazette No. 39 of August 14, 1956.
- ↑ Guidelines for awarding the Zelter badge, point 4, Federal Law Gazette No. 39 of August 14, 1956.
- ↑ Guidelines for awarding the Zelter badge, point 2, Federal Law Gazette No. 39 of August 14, 1956.
- ↑ Guidelines for awarding the Zelter badge, point 8, Federal Law Gazette No. 39 of August 14, 1956.
- ↑ Lotte Baumanns, Ulrich Köhler, Thorsten Wrigge (eds.): The SV manual . 3. Edition. Aachen 2002, ISBN 3-89873-419-6 , p. 401 .
- ↑ Highlights. sinfonischer-chor-aachen.de; Retrieved January 21, 2010.
- ↑ Decree on the amendment to the guidelines for awarding the Zelter badge, Item 9, Federal Law Gazette No. 40 of July 30, 1960.
- ↑ Four choirs are awarded the Zelter badge. Archived from the original on April 21, 2010 ; Retrieved April 25, 2009 .