Great congregation, cozy community, fun and cheerful. This is what characterizes the Tahi Church Music Week, which can be said to be a Reformed heritage and was organized this year as well. During the week, which has been an unbroken success for 65 years, not only musical but also spiritual edification is an important goal. Education here is now experiencing a renaissance. But one thing never changed: the constant good cheer.
Even the formation of the week is incredible. It was started in the middle of the dictatorship, and in the year after the 1956 revolution, with the aim of introducing the pastors to the 1948 hymnal, which was still new at the time. Thus, we could even say that the workshop is experiencing a renaissance, as the participants are now getting to know the songs of the 2021 songbook.
The week worked steadily during the height of the dictatorship, and even the coronavirus could not force it to take a break, despite the fact that many choirs had to suspend their activities due to the epidemic.
The event, which initially started as a cantor training course, has always had a host. Over the years, the tribal community was formed, who not only performed cantorships, but also led a choir. They gather year after year to encourage each other. Not only for their own pleasure, but also for the benefit of the public, to nurture the tradition.
This year, for the first time, the choir organized by the participants was also prepared after the camp: a musical devotion was held in the Reformed church in Fasor. It was more than a simple presentation showing what they had learned in a week. He gave an insight into and summarized for the audience what is happening at Tahi Church Music Week. First of all, of course, learned choral works were played, most of which were played with instrumental accompaniment. Among the pieces were works by Zoltán Gárdonyi, Brahms, Bach and many other composers. The concert also showed the results of the conductor's course, because almost every piece was conducted by someone else. But in addition to music and singing, they did not forget about spiritual food either, pastor Péter Somogyi preached the Word of God.
The fact that they do not have the right musical knowledge can cause fear in many people. However, this is not directly necessary, there is no level expected in advance. There are no exams or expectations this week. – Here, everyone can really satisfy their own desire for knowledge. This also holds the team together, we are together with one heart and one soul, there is no teasing of each other, no measuring of each other's knowledge, but everyone can learn and give back to the community - emphasizes the organist of the reformed church in Fasor. Among the participants are instrument teachers, singing teachers, conductors, students studying music, and there are those who are completely inexperienced in choral singing, who do not know sheet music, but who learn quickly after hearing it.
Others worry about their age, but this is also unnecessary. There was no age limit for this year's church music week. "The youngest participant was just learning to walk, but there were also singers over eighty years old," notes Sándor Berkesi. Accordingly, the choir was also ageless, i.e. it could not have been categorized by age group.
The leader of the Tahi Church Music Week, Péter Hargita, has always wanted as many people from each family as possible to participate in the event.
That is why he always advocated that those coming from the same family, parents and children, should be supported with something extra. "Several generations are present together." In more than one case, both parents and children participate, and there is nothing more beautiful than when families get involved in this activity, in the atmosphere of this week - János Pálúr expresses his opinion about family participation.
From these experiences and memories, they will be recharged both musically and spiritually for a whole year. Next year, they can't wait to return to the family environment, where they can continue their spiritual and church music development.
Source and full article: reformatus.hu
Featured image: Ivola Bazánth
