A view of the altar behind the orchestra in the Zionskirche. (Click image for larger view)
Last night we played the second of our four “Barocke Trompetengala” concerts in Germany. The performance took place in the Zionskirche in Bielefeld Bethel, Germany which was very beautifully decorated with tall Christmas trees flanking the altar. Despite the cold and snowy weather the church was packed to capacity with a warm, enthusiastic audience. It was a distinct pleasure to perform for such wonderful people in solch ein wunderschöne Kirche. (Oh no! I’m actually starting to “think” in German sometimes these days. Furchtbar, nicht?)
Once again, I was not able to take any pictures during the concert, for obvious reasons, but I was able to shoot some video with my camcorder. The church was so crowded that the only place I could put the camera was high up in the balcony on the right above the concert staging area. Thank God for my nifty Joby Gorillapod tripod! That thing actually gripped the railing of the balcony so I could position the camera effectively. Amazing!
The except I am posting here is the end of the slow movement of Hertel’s Concerto No. 3 in D Major. It should give you an idea of what it was like at the concert. Tomorrow night we perform our third concert in the Abdinghofkirche in Paderborn.
Elisa Koehler is Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Formerly the Director of the Center for Dance, Music, and Theatre at Goucher College and the Music Director and Conductor of the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, she is a professional conductor, trumpeter, and author. Dr. Koehler has performed on both modern and period instruments with the Bach Sinfonia, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Handel Choir of Baltimore, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Washington Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, Baltimore’s Bach Concert Series, and as the leader of Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band. Her publications include two books: Fanfares and Finesse: A Performer’s Guide to Trumpet History and Literature (Indiana University Press) and A Dictionary for the Modern Trumpet Player (Rowman & Littlefield), numerous articles on historic brass for the ITG Journal, and new performing editions of the Haydn and Hummel trumpet concerti for Carl Fischer Music. She was named a Distinguished Alumna by the University of Tennessee in 2009 and elected to the Board of Directors of the International Trumpet Guild in 2017. In 2014 Dr. Koehler received Goucher College's highest faculty honor, the Caroline Doebler Bruckerl Award, which recognizes an exemplary faculty member in the areas of scholarship, teaching, and service. She earned a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the Peabody Conservatory, a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and bachelor’s degrees in both music education and performance from Peabody.
View all posts by Elisa Koehler
6 thoughts on “Concert in Bielefeld Bethel”
Hi! Can you unlock the Youtube video? It says it is private. The pictures are beautiful and I can’t wait to see the video! Glad everything is going well 🙂
Sorry about that, Mike! I went back to YouTube and corrected the settings. It should work fine now. You can tell that I’m still learning how it all works. Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
I couldn’t wait “bis spater” to comment. Your reporting is worthy of the National Geographic. The concert is very impressive. Your playing is superb. I enjoyed it so much. Can’t wait to congratulate you in person.
Dear Elisa, I heard about your terrific concerts. Congratulation! Unfortunatey, my agenda is full for today and this weekend, so that I can’ t join you in the upcoming concerts. Please take my best wishes for all your activities in the future. Your blog is beautiful …
Give my hugs to Reinhard, Joachim, Kurt & Cosima!
Joachim
I really enjoyed this posting, especially the video excerpt, of course. Only problem: I wish I could have been there for the entire concert. Looking forward now to the next post.
Hello, you competent and artistic trumpeter – and “Guten Morgen” in Germany! Andrea and I do congratulate you on now three wonderful concerts and performances. Save the best for last! I.e. the Thomas Kirche concert in Leipzig (“Bach” Stadt) this Saturday. We understand that you did have a rather “dramatic” entrance for your first piece in Bethel. You surely do not need that! We are relieved to learn that neither you nor your trumpet (in that order!) were seriously injured. I love to seeing this in person as I am about to pack, hop on a plane, and arrive Friday in Leipzig. Keep your feet straight, your eyes and mouth open, your breath strong! See (and hear) you soon.
Love, Peace and good, strong Lungs
Otfried/Otto
Elisa Koehler 
Hi! Can you unlock the Youtube video? It says it is private. The pictures are beautiful and I can’t wait to see the video! Glad everything is going well 🙂
Sorry about that, Mike! I went back to YouTube and corrected the settings. It should work fine now. You can tell that I’m still learning how it all works. Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
I couldn’t wait “bis spater” to comment. Your reporting is worthy of the National Geographic. The concert is very impressive. Your playing is superb. I enjoyed it so much. Can’t wait to congratulate you in person.
PS Sorry, my computer doesn’t have an umlaut.
Dear Elisa, I heard about your terrific concerts. Congratulation! Unfortunatey, my agenda is full for today and this weekend, so that I can’ t join you in the upcoming concerts. Please take my best wishes for all your activities in the future. Your blog is beautiful …
Give my hugs to Reinhard, Joachim, Kurt & Cosima!
Joachim
I really enjoyed this posting, especially the video excerpt, of course. Only problem: I wish I could have been there for the entire concert. Looking forward now to the next post.
Hello, you competent and artistic trumpeter – and “Guten Morgen” in Germany! Andrea and I do congratulate you on now three wonderful concerts and performances. Save the best for last! I.e. the Thomas Kirche concert in Leipzig (“Bach” Stadt) this Saturday. We understand that you did have a rather “dramatic” entrance for your first piece in Bethel. You surely do not need that! We are relieved to learn that neither you nor your trumpet (in that order!) were seriously injured. I love to seeing this in person as I am about to pack, hop on a plane, and arrive Friday in Leipzig. Keep your feet straight, your eyes and mouth open, your breath strong! See (and hear) you soon.
Love, Peace and good, strong Lungs
Otfried/Otto