The season of traditions is upon us, and what a wonderful season it is. Since Halloween, I’ve been performing concert after concert at all kinds of wonderful venues, and now I’m looking forward to being a part of many upcoming Christmas and holiday concerts and celebrations.
About a year ago, Mike Gallagher, a fellow volunteer at the Reading Liederkranz club, asked me to join him in building a model train layout for the club’s upcoming Christkindl Markt. The goal was to create some additional Christmas magic and whimsy for children and their parents.
Mike, fellow club member Rolf Duerr, amazing craftsmen Mike Geigle and Mike Greer and I set about creating what will be an O-gauge Christmas “putz” on a 4-foot-by-12-foot layout based on alpine scenery and a few historic landmarks from the glory days of Mount Penn’s history. All are welcome to come and enjoy it on Dec. 5, 6 and 7.
One of the evenings when Rolf and I were upstairs working on the layout, we were treated to a rehearsal of the Reading Liederkranz Singers as they prepared for their annual German-language Christmas worship service. What a magical evening it was. Rolf and I were upstairs deciding on which buildings should go where, imagining the joy the display might bring to visitors, while from downstairs wafted up the sweet music of Christmas.
Like the train platform and Christkindl Markt, the Reading Liederkranz Singers also invite everyone to come and be entertained and put in the Christmas spirit at their concert, which carries on a tradition more than 100 years old.
I’ll get back to the chorus in a moment, but meanwhile, on Friday, we’re going to honor another of the club’s longstanding members and musicians, Kermit Ohlinger, or as most know him, “Doctor Squeezbox.” All are invited, and we’ll be filming segments for an hourlong TV special about Kermit as he performs live, starting at 5 p.m.
A musician with an illustrious and lengthy career, including performing with the Eckert Brothers at my wedding, Kermit has literally entertained thousands of people at the Reading Liederkranz and elsewhere over the decades.
Also serving the public at the club for decades has been Dieter Wolter and his team of mentors as they work with young school students sharing culture, language and everything related to the traditions of the club’s German roots. Classes are held at the club regularly.
The Reading Liederkranz Singers began in 1885 as a birthday gathering for eight German immigrants. As they sang their beloved traditional folksongs together they grew in confidence and realized that they were a pretty good octet. It was at that point that Adalbert Sell, a schoolteacher and choir director, suggested they organize into a singing society. This organization of like-minded folksingers thus created the Reading Liederkranz.
Within a year, the group of eight grew into a group of 40. In addition to annual Maifest concerts, the singers have presented a longstanding tradition of Weinachtsgottesdienst (Christmas) services at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Reading. Almost from the beginning, those Christmas services were simultaneously broadcast live on WEEU radio, and during my 35 years at the radio station as its president and general manager, it was my pleasure to always be sure this live broadcast tradition was carried forward during the yuletide season.
Always on hand to make things work to perfection was our chief engineer, John Engle. John always lived up to his surname’s meaning, angel, and due to his expert work, thousands of people in the Schuylkill River Valley were able to bring the service into their homes as it was happening. Thank you, John Engle. By the way, if you enjoy singing, new members are always welcomed with open arms.
Martin Luther once said: “Music is a fair and glorious gift from God. I would not for the world forego my humble share of music. Singers are never sorrowful, but merry, and smile through their troubles in song.”
Faithfully and skillfully led by Mark Herr, chorus director, this year’s service and live concert will again be broadcast via WEEU AM-830 and will include a guest flutist and bassoonist. The program will be presented at Renewed Spirit Church, 449 N. Ninth St., Reading, on Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. All are invited to come in person or listen in live.
The sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Sonja Ware, pastor, and this “Deutsche Weihnacht” celebration will be a meaningful representation of all that Christmas was, is and holds for future generations who value the roots of tradition. Here’s a link to a video German Christmas music by the Reading Liederkranz Singers, which I filmed a few years back: https://youtu.be/Mr7XbrZy4RA?si=qV4dYlp5xclcFP8I.
Finally, consider coming out to enjoy a German time zone New Year’s Eve celebration with us. Organized by volunteer Cherylene Shollenberger and her team, my band, Dave Kline & the Report, for the third year will serve up dance music of all kinds, and we begin around 3 p.m. and go until 6 p.m. our time, which is midnight in Germany and Austria’s time zone. At 6 we do our new tradition of a pretzel drop, then we play more dance music until 7. Reservations are being accepted. After that you can go to another party or head home for a relaxing evening to start your new year. Details of these activities are available on the club’s website, https://www.readingliederkranz.com.
Dave Kline is an award-winning writer, photographer, show host and producer, singer-songwriter, travel guide and community advocate. Reach him at davesmountainfolklore@gmail.com.