Christmas fun

So tonight was the city music school's concert. (This is the class our boys take that's held in the school but privately run--but it costs only about 100 Euro for the year (and that's a calendar year, and includes recorder lessons).  Anyway, the concert was our school and six others, third and fourth graders and some older instrumental students. It was held in the double-balconied church downtown with murals on the ceiling and gilt trim and candle-lined aisles. We walked through the medieval Christmas market with its brightly-colored tents and wafting woodsmoke from the outdoor spit and found a seat inside in a raised, boxed pew. The pastor welcomed everyone and said that tonight the church was our town's living room. It certainly was nice to celebrate with all the neighbors. (That's one thing I love about Germany--with so many pedestrians and so many services on a very local level, you really feel like you know the people around you, at least by sight.)

The program included contemporary songs written for a school Christmas event, plus classical instrumental pieces strewn through the middle. Bach chorales on the recorder, a string quartet playing Pachelbel's Canon (did you know he was born in Nurnberg? He's like, a neighbor.) The audience was invited to join in on the last song. Tochter Zion, a German poem set to a tune by Handel. It would have been a bit ambitious for Americans, but um, nobody seemed to think it was strange.

I have to say, it was a lot easier to have three adults, one per child, than last year, when I took the two middle children by myself (DH stayed home with the youngest, since we didn't think she'd last). And littlest child fell asleep this time, so that made it even easier.

Anyway, it was a very nice concert, and I'm glad my son has gotten a chance to do some real music stuff while here. And that we've gotten to watch it!