Adelaider Liedertafel: Amber Brown tested her voice with the choir in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
A very special sound filters down from the first floor of the German Club in the city every Tuesday night. It's the rousing music of the Adelaide Liedertafel - Australia's oldest continuing male choir which, this year is celebrating a very significant landmark: They've been belting out traditional German songs for one hundred and fifty years. What's kept them together for so long? For president, Peter Reeh that's an easy question to answer.
Peter Reeh, Adelaider Liedertafel: "Camaraderie. That is what Liedertafel stands for - Lieder means song, tafel is a table - it means men or singers around a table enjoying each other's company and that keeps them together."
And it's been keeping them together, and perhaps giving them an excuse to lubricate their vocal chords since 1858 when the choir was formed at the Hotel Hamburg, which used to be on the corner of Rundle Street and Gawler Place.
Their first conductor was Carl Linger - a migrant from Berlin - who formed the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and also wrote the patriotic anthem "Song of Australia". His hand-written songbooks are treasured items in the Choir's historical collection.
At its peak, the Liedertafel had one hundred and forty members - and there was a waiting list. Now, there are 44 singers - mostly first generation Germans and they take their lead from their 24-year-old conductor, Johnathon Bligh - who for many is young enough to be their grandson. But what Johnathon lacks in years he makes up for in enthusiasm.
Johnathon Bligh, Conductor: "There are guys here that just sing for the love of it - a lot of them can't read music, they are builders, tradesmen and they respond a lot to facial animations and hand gestures so it's really important."
There have been a couple of darker moments in the Liedertafel's history. They were almost silenced during the two World Wars and their beloved banner had to be hidden and buried in a copper tube. It wasn't recovered until 1958.
Peter Reeh, Adelaider Liedertafel: "The banner is our pride and joy and it's great that it's still intact. Unfortunately during the war years - how can I put this - common sense goes out the window. We had some of our singers were in internment camps and some of their sons were fighting for Australia so you put that together."
Some of the singers have been members for 50 years. The oldest is 93 year old Irwin Weiser who started singing when he was 9 years old. Decades later, he's a brilliant First Tenor - and he's not bad on his feet either - he still loves to dance.
The Adelaide Liedertafel celebrate its 150th birthday over the October Long Weekend with a Civic Reception, a gala dinner and two concerts at the Adelaide Town Hall.
Peter "It's not just that we celebrate the 150 years of the Adelaide Liedertafel - we also celebrate a German singers fest. Like the Olympics, every four years German choirs come together somewhere in Australia and this year because of our 150th there is a total of 15 choirs descending on Adelaide."
That'll see 400 choristers take the stage at the Town Hall. Contact the German Club or log onto the Choir's website for details. The Adelaide Liedertafel rehearses every Tuesday night at the German Club, 223 Flinders Street in the city. They welcome new members - and no, you don't have to be German nor do you have to be able to speak German.
Adelaider Liedertafel
150 Jubilee Celebrations Incorporating Sangerfest 2008
3 - 5 OctoberAdelaider Liedertafel Rehearsals
7.30pm Tuesdays
German Club
223 Flinders St
AdelaidePublished 7th September 2008
