OUR TRIP TO GERMANY & ENGLAND 2005
HANDS ACROSS THE WATER
Our trip began in December of 2004, and little did we know that it
would ever come to be. The Jolly Rogues and the Ladies Remembered
had traveled to Tewkesbury, England at the request of a friend in July
2004. Our goal was to aid the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society
raise money to save a battlefield from 1471. Having managed in
July of 2004 to do just that, Jim Murray looked for another country and
avenue to conquer. And that is just what he and the Jolly Rogues
did.
Music is a universal conduit in any language and Jim used that to
arrange a tour of Northern Germany and the Baltic Sea area.
Music groups from The Netherlands, Germany and other European countries
have large festivals each year. Murray researched it on the web
and made contact with a Chanty Choir from the Netherlands. The
Rogues were off and running. With the help of the chanty choir leader
from the Netherlands, Murray made contact with the Oldenburg choir and
the trip was cemented with the common language of music.
The trip began with a flight to Heathrow and a shuttle to Hamburg,
Germany. Even being in a different country, things remain the
same. Lost instruments between Heathrow and Hamburg was the
greatest concern. The trip from the Hamburg Airport started this
adventure. And some things are universal. Leaving the
airport, we ran into road construction. But that was minor.
Being in a car with someone who’s idea of the USA was a version of
Johnny Cash on the radio, gave Murray a moment’s hesitate, but that was
short lived.
The northern country side was beautiful with large expanses of wheat
and oats growing everywhere. The fields looked like a patchwork
quilt separated by rows of trees and shrubs. The horizon was
dotted with gleaming blades of the industrial windmills at collectively
formed windmill farms, used to generate the area’s electricity.
After several miles these became a common site, just as the
Walmart, McDonalds and Burger Kings did.
Our first stop was in Oldenburg, where the Rogues and Ladies were
housed with members of the Oldenburg Chanty Choir and their
families. Some Rogues were luck enough to have at least one
English speaking member of the family. But that didn’t stop the
fun. The second day centered around a tour of the
city. Oldenburg’s population for a small town as the hosts told
us was l25,000 people. When we mentally combined the total of our
hometowns, we were a little short on that population.
The town is a mixture of old and new. The old town center being
where our hosts took us. There were buildings dating back to the
early 15 and 16 century, as well as a reconstructed version of a Olde
Oldenburg with buildings with thatched roofs and living history
demonstrations etc. We felt right at home.
Oldenburg is located between Bremen and the border of the
Netherlands. On the outskirts of the town is a large lake with
tributaries to the Rhine River. It was in a building on the edge
of the lake that the Jolly Rogues and two other chanty choirs performed
to a packed house of 400. It was interesting to hear the same
songs the Rogues sing, done in a choir format. After the concert,
the groups made their way to a function hall and the music continued to
the early hours of the morning.
Off to Dahme in the morning, Murray again put his faith in music.
His e-mail contact had arranged for a bus coming from the
Netherlands to pick up the Rogues and Ladies for the 4 hour drive to
Dahme. Again they were is a position of uncertainty.
Did anyone on the bus speak English? Traveling through the
countryside gave the group an opportunity to see the beautiful area as
well as examine the other passengers. Finally the silence was
broken by a member of the chanty choir and it was not long before the
Rogues and the Zultsinger choir were each sing out their versions of
the same songs. It is amazing that all of a sudden the was
conversation in English.
Arriving in Dahme on Friday afternoon , the Rogues stayed in a Bed and
Breakfast not far from the beaches and the Promenade. After
getting settled, it was off to the Festival Tents. Walking along
the beach, the views were spectacular. In the distance, 2- masted
square riggers or tall ships could be seen. The beaches
were spotless and the sands white and clean. The beaches
were dotted with small wicker cabana chairs. Of various colors.
This added depth and personality to the beach., and provided
beach goers shelter and relief from the sun and breezes.
The performance tent was just off the beach. At one end was the
stage and the other end the bier garden.
Needless to say the beers flowed. The festival was opened with a
dinner for the choirs and their guests. The dinner fare consisted
of the area specialties, pickled herring and eel as well as fried
potatoes. And lots of beer. The custom in the area is the
down the pickled herring in one gulp. Naturally, a member of the
Rogues had to do just that to prove he was worthy to sing with the best
of choirs. The performance tent would be the food tent, the
concert tent and the meeting place for all the choirs. This tent
is where lasting friendships are rekindled each year and new ones are
made.
The festival consisted of two locations for performances, the
tent and an open air stage with the ocean and beach as a back
drop. People would sit on the promenade in front of little
bistros and listen to the music. It seemed that each choir had
it’s own followers. And the Rogues had been adopted by all.
It was with great sadness, that the Rogues said their good-byes to the
newly found friends. Invitations were issued to return in the
spring of 2006 to a large festival.
Monday morning it was off to London and the second leg of our
trip. We arrived at our destination in
mid-afternoon. Our resort was Walton Hall, the manor house to a
small hamlet just north of Strafford upon Avon. The manor set off
the main road by over a mile. The narrow, almost a single lane
road took you through wheat and hay fields, past pasture land complete
with sheep, cows and horses. The manor had it’s own stable, golf
course, skeet shooting range and archery as well as the usual
amenities. Being busy Americans, we didn’t take advantage of any
of the things.
However, Tuesday presented itself. And off we when to meet the Bard of
Strafford. The Rogues traveled the 7 miles in an hour. You
see it isn’t a road trip unless we get lost several times.
Strafford upon Avon was beautiful. Going from modern to 16th
century architecture, provided a visual contrast that was to be
marveled. Our education was continued by a tour of Shakespeare’s
birthplace, a visit to his museum and tours of homes belonging to his
family. The most awe inspiring moment was in The Trinity
Cathedral. There inside the alter rail was Shakespeare’s grave,
complete with his curse. To realize that this church had
withstood time, death and a stray German bomb from WWII, the writer
felt completely humbled.
Again music and friends played a role in our return to England.
Tewkesbury and the Tewkesbury Battle Field Society requested our
presents. Concert time. This year as we did last
year, the Rogues performed a benefit for the Battle Field
Society. And to this date, the Rogues have provided just under
10% of the funds needed by the Society to save the battle field and the
erect a monument. This concert also gave the Rogues a chance to
reconnect with friends from last year. As always, the English are
proper hosts and hostesses.
Thursday and Friday were spectacular. Thursday was a free
day. Half the group went to Oxford with its museums and
colleges. There they saw musical instruments that were over 500
to 600 years old. They visited Oxford
University. The others made the long drive southward to
Stonehenge and Salisbury.
Stonehenge, the two novices were told had become very commercialized
since the 1970’s when the drummer had last visited. But the
others were greatly impressed. But the best, was the Evensong
service at the Cathedral in Salisbury. In this last
cavernous church, the voices of the children’s choir resonated in
angelic tones. But being historians by hobby, the Magna
Carta was the most impressive of all. To see one of the last
remaining original copies of something written and preserved
since 1215 and to understand that the laws of the civilized world have
been based on this single piece of paper was something indescribable.
Friday brought the adventure of Warwick Castle, where the feudal lords
lived. The castle has been used to show the regal history from
the 1500’s to the early 20th century. Displays were based on
every time period, with museum rooms filed with armour and relics,
clothing and furniture. It was not hard to imagine after touring
the castle just how difficult it was for the peasants to live under
conditions of the time.
At last the day we had been dreading for the last 2 weeks. It was
time to leave the new friends, the music and the enlightenment of
our travels and return home. But one last stop to Runny Meade,
just outside of London. This is where the Magna Carta was signed
in 1215 by King John and the barons. On a hill, in an open meadow which was bordered on one
side by the Thames, the writer could envision the colored banners
and tents of all the lords, earls and dukes who had work so hard to
draw up a document that has stood the test of time.
As with any great adventure, it has it beginnings and it’s end.
Back to reality and the knowledge that new adventures await the Jolly
Rogues next year. Be it Germany, France or even China.
June 9,2005 Bad
Zwischenahn
Dahme Shanty
Poster featuring the Jolly Rogues
Rogues discover
their posters all over town
Captain Billy dances
In Dahme
Our latest Jolly
Rogues Roadie
The King & Queen
with the Jolly Rogues
Alan Hicks warns
Mike Bunge that Margie is married
Last
Updated July 21,2005
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