Collegium Musicum der Universität Tübingen (Choir & Orchestra)

Founded: Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The Collegium Musicum der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Collegium Musicum of the University of Tübingen) offers under the General Studies students of all faculties of a comprehensive program of musical training. To accompany the musical work of the ensemble courses, lectures and special events are offered, which are intended to deepen and complement the practical work in theory.

The Akademische Chor der Universität (Academic Choir of the University) is primarily dedicated to oratorio programs that they perform together with guest ensembles (in early music mostly on historical instruments) or about every two years, together with the Akademischen Orchester.

The Akademischen Orchester (Academic Orchestra) generally develops symphonic programs of different styles and is supported during the rehearsals by professional musicians.

From the great choral springs the Camerata Vocalis, a chamber choir, which mainly is mainly devoted to demanding a cappella literature.

In addition, the Collegium Musicum offers a musical and organizational support for interested students music groups.

Akademische Chor

The Akademische Chor was founded in 1999 by the then University Music Director Tobias Hiller through the expansion of the chamber choir Camerata Vocalis.

During the performance of oratorio works the Akademische Chor brings besides the great oratorios, more rarely performed works, such. As Francis Poulenc's Gloria, the Dona nobis pacem by Ralph Vaughan Williams or Benjamin Britten's War Requiem (the opening of the European Church Music Festival in Schwabisch Gmund in July 2005). With Arthur Honegger's King David, the Choir performed in 2001 in Tübingen sister city Aix-en-Provence, France. For the 525-year Anniversary of the University the Choir performed in July 2002 in Tübingen the world permiere of a composition commissioned by Age Hirv (Estonia). The Choir appeared repeatedly in the prestigious series of "Reihe Stunde der Kirchenmusik" (hour of sacred music) at the Stiftskirche Stuttgart, recently with Haydn's Jahreszeiten and Stabat Mater by Karol Szymanowski. In the summer of 2008 the Choir could be heard in the oratorio Jeanne d`Arc by A. Honegger, which is rarely performed n Germany because of its large and complex occupation, in Sindelfingen and Tübingen acclaimed performances. For Felix Mendelssohn-year the Choir performed Lobgesang with the Sinfonietta Tübingen. This cooperation continued in autumn 2009 with Haydn's Stabat mater.

Since 2011, the Akademische Chor is directed by UMD Philipp Amelung. Highlights of recent years were Deutsche Requiem by Johannes Brahms, Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248) by J.S. Bach, a work commissioned by the composer M. Höring Golgotha and in January 2014 Paulus by F. Mendelssohn.

Akademisches Orchester

The roots of the Akademischen Orchesters Tübingen date back to the founded by Friedrich Silcher "Akademischen Musikverein". The orchestra consists of 75 musicians from all faculties of the University.

The Orchestra is not only musically ambitious: Time and again, the student orchestra has surprised in recent years also by unusual program concepts. Under the slogan "American Dances" could be found works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Copland well together, as the same name with the theme Death and Transfiguration by Richard Strauss clay and Berg's Violin Concerto.

Invitations for European Church Music Festival in Schwabisch Gmund, the International Jazz Festival in Meersburg and the "Festival International de Musique Universitaire de Marrakech" (FIMUM) in Morocco, in the USA and more recently at the University of Bologna meant new challenges and variety for the Orcherstra; as well as concert tours in the USA and many European countries (Austria, France, Denmark, Poland).

In May 2010, the Orchestra participated in the FIMU in Belfort / France. In summer term 2011, the played the Deutsche Requiem by Johannes Brahms with the Akademischen Chor Tübingen and the Universitätschor Innsbruck in Tübingen, Innsbruck und Stams. In the winter semester 2011-2012, the the Orchestra devoted for the first time the music of Gustav Mahler with his With Symphony No. 4. In the winter semester 2013-2014 the oratorio Paulus by Felix Mendelssohn wasperformed together with the Akademische Chor der Universität. With L.v. Beethoven's Fidelio, the Orchestra performed in January 2015 after 25 years once again a concert opera.

Source: Universität Tübingen Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (January 2016); Liner notes to the albums '"J.S. Bach: Weltliche Quellen des Weihnachts-Oratoriums I/II" (Corona, Photos 01-03)
Contributed by Rudolf Bayer (January 2016); Aryeh Oron (January 20216)

Wilfried Ficher: Short Biography | Chor und Kammerorchester Collegium Musicum der Universität Tübingen | Recordings of Vocal Works

Links to other Sites

Universität Tubingen: Collegium Musicum (Official Website) [German]
Collegium Musicum Tübingen on Facebook