"Elysium is the name of a beautiful place from Greek mythology."
The third event of the fall series, titled “Colorful Diversity in Europe,” took place in a lecture hall filled with many children and their singing.
Phew…. What a Children’s University event! A choir, a grand piano, solo singing, and educational activities exploring the significance of singing filled the Schadeberg Lecture Hall on the Unteres Schloss campus with sound—and even made it shake a little. “Music and Songs from Europe: How Do They Connect Us?” was the title of the third event in the “Colorful Diversity of Europe” series. Guests included District Cantor Peter Scholl, who also directs the Bach Choir of Siegen; educators Conny Sander (Siegen Music School) and Katja Schmidt (principal of the Burbach-Holzhausen Elementary School); and the boys and girls of the “Cantolino” children’s choir.
“People have always sung for and with one another,” was how the topic was introduced. Parents sing for their children; people sing at birthdays, on holidays like Christmas, and also at the start of and during sporting events. Singing conveys emotions (“You can tell whether a song is sad or happy.”); singing brings people together; it prevents loneliness and strengthens team spirit. Peter Scholl began by playing the European anthem “Freude schöner Götterfunken” on the grand piano. The choir and many of the children spontaneously joined in.
The World Cup this summer served as an introduction to the topic of national anthems. “What does music have to do with soccer? Well, at the start of international matches, the national anthems are played and sung. Following the example of the TV show *1, 2, and 3…*, the lecture hall hosted a national anthem guessing game. There were three possible responses: sit, stand, or squat. To kick things off, the children’s choir performed “Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit” (Unity, Justice, and Freedom). Germany, Romania, and Denmark were the options. Almost all the children knew the answer and remained standing. Then a map appeared on the screen. The children were asked to locate Germany on the map of Europe. Italy, the Netherlands, France—the girls and boys were familiar with these anthems. They also had no trouble locating the countries on the map of Europe. The Finnish national anthem, which Peter Scholl played on the grand piano, was apparently less well known. Most of the children were at a loss, guessing it was Portugal instead.
Why do people sing together? Peter Scholl: “When we sing, both halves of the brain are active.” Even before birth, children in the womb react to music. “Singing is something very important,” Peter Scholl continued. Not only is it fun, but through singing we can also communicate feelings and ideas. Singing also fosters a sense of synchronized community. The choir director said, “That’s why we need an anthem for Europe, too.” Referring to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the district cantor explained the lyrics: “Elysium is the name of a beautiful place from Greek mythology.” There, peace, happiness, and equality reign. The people are “drunk with fire”—that is, happy. And: “All people become brothers and sisters.” This Elysium is to become a reality on Earth.
The European anthem rang out from many voices throughout the vast hall. The event concluded with the Children’s European Anthem, which is linguistically easier to understand: “Many countries, many children, all want to be happy. Come, let’s join together now in singing this anthem. For peace, for love, freedom, and justice. A Europe for all of us, today, tomorrow, always.”
As a thank-you, the performers received thunderous applause from the stands; Peter Scholl received a handmade Dr. SZchen, while Katja Schmidt and Conny Sander each received a University of Siegen mug, and the young singers each received a small gift bag from the Children’s University.
