The Regensburger Domspatzen, the cathedral choir has been in existence for more than a thousand years. Bishop Wolfgang founded a separate school for the cathedral, which besides general education attached great importance to musical education. The pupils had to sing liturgy in the church of the bishop.
In the thirties of the twentieth century, Dr. Theobald Schrems made the cathedral choir world famous. In less than forty years, from 1924 to 1963, the Headmaster and conductor Schrems extended the concert activities of the choir without disregarding his liturgy duties in the cathedral. The choir consists exclusively of boys and young men.
From 1964 - 1994, Georg Ratzinger was the leader of the "world's oldest boys' choir". Each year he went on a long tour with his choir around Germany. In 1984 and 1987, the Domspatzen went on an extended tour abroad to visit the USA, and one year later Hungary and Japan. Connections with Eastern-Asia were strengthened in 1991 and 1994.
The choir was hosted in Japan, Hongkong and Korea. Tours to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland followed. After his brother Joseph had been elected as pope, Georg Ratzinger told people about their common childhood in Upper Bavaria, their family life during the past decades.
Since the summer of 1994, the direction of the Regensburger Domspatzen has been in the hands of Roland Blichner. The choir has already given three concerts in Japan (1998, 2000 and 2004). Further tours abroad led them to Italy, Hungary, Scotland, the Philippines and to France.
The combination of the choir with a music high school makes it easier to coordinate the musical issues. 240 of the 500 students who attend the Domspatzen high school live in the adjoining boarding school, and 130 of them make use of the daycare centre. The boarding school is managed by a Catholic priest. The primary boarding school Pielenhofen of the Regensburger Domspatzen is situated in the scenically attractive valley of the river Naab. Musically gifted pupils from grade 1 -4 are taught there.
The extensive musical repertory of the Regensburger Domspatzen contains the oldest songs of the church, the Gregorian Choral(e), vocal music of the 16th century with works by Palestrina, Lasso and Hassler, and baroque music, music of romanticism, folk-songs and works of contemporary composers. All over the world, the Domspatzen can be heard when they are on concert tours. The Domspatzen also appear regularly on the radio and on television.
The main task of the Regensburger Domspatzen is the arrangement of the liturgy during holy service at the cathedral of Regensburg. Each Sunday, during high mass they sing the Gregorian Choral(e) as well as holy masses arranged for several voices and motets.
It will take my life time to know the Regensburger Domspatzen. I have only four months to get myself prepared before I make the first encounter with them in Taiwan, I am full of excitements to devote myself to the Regensburger Domspatzen to be best of my ability while they are in Taiwan.
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