Ever since I can remember I had always wished to travel around Europe. Finally, the opportunity arrived to travel with my High School Choir throughout central and Eastern Europe. Our first stop would be the beautiful city of Prague.
Our first cathedral was not located at the imperial castle, to our dismay, but one of a smaller stature on a corner in the Old Town. Our choir consisted of over eighty people so we generated an awesome sound in that little cathedral. Singing in the cathedrals of Europe would prove not to be the greatest experience on our two week journey however. We also sang in Krakow, Poland; Vienna, Austria; Salzburg, Austria; Innsbruck, Austria; Lucerne, Switzerland; and Heidelberg, Germany. The greatest experience, however, would occur at our last hotel in Heidelberg.
It was the final night of our stay in Europe and we were all anxious to return to the States. Our group had been divided into three different groups in order to accommodate our size in the hotels. Our final hotel was more like a hostel, the floors had communal bathrooms, it was very small and it was also out of the way. On our last night we booked a few tables in the small outdoor cafe in the hotel.
After our dinner we walked outside and saw one of the tables filled with suits and another with a couple of locals. We sang some of our songs to the small crowd and they accepted with minimal delight. We began to run out of songs so we eventually moved on to skits to entertain our small group. At about 9:15 that night, however, about five of us sang Heilig, Heilig, Heilig. We sang the chorus part pretty well but neither of us new the solo portion so with just sang the chorus accompaniment.
Then just as we began the accompaniment, some singing came from behind us. We turned around, and there were two German men singing the solo, one short and plump singing 1st tenor and the other about 5' 10" singing baritone. We continued to sing as the other who didn't know the words stood there in awe.
Apparently the two were part of a men's choir for the hotel and were working on the side of the hotel installing a shade of some sort. They later brought up the rest of their choir and sang a few more tunes for us. We also sang some other songs for them. The final song we sang however was once again Heilig, Heilig, Heilig. This time our choirs sang in unison.
It was the most amazing experience in my life. None of us knew German, they knew very little English, but we all knew one song, Heilig, Heilig, Heilig. It was an experience which I will never forget and one which changed my life for years to come.
Logan Balkovek.
Redding, California
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