Figure 1.-- This is the Pfälzer Weinkehlchen e.V. choir, unfortunately we do not know the date of the photograph, but we would guess the late 1940s. The boys wear red jackets and black shorts. The girl I believe wear blue dresses.

We note the Pfälzer Weinkehlchen e.V, bit do not know a great deal about the choir as this time. A German children' choir describes itself, "Der Chor besteht im Moment aus ca. 40 Jugendlichen im Alter von 6 - 15 Jahren. Neue Mitsänger sind gerne willkommen, kommt, einfach dienstags zwischen 17:30 Uhr und 19:30 Uhr in die Chorprobe in das Weinkehlchenhaus. Das Weinkehlchenhaus befindet sich in der Wallgasse in Neustadt, in der Nähe von A, der Ostschule, der Festwiese oder der OFD." I am not sure where the Choir is located, but believevit was an East German choir. A German reader writes, "Ihe choir's name seems a little kitschy or mawkish. The uniforms seem to be quite a traditional local dress. Their reportoire seems to be mostly folk music." The boys wear red double-breasted vests or waistcoats with black bowws. The boys originally performed in black short pants and white kneesocks. The changed to long black pants, I think in the 1980s. The girl I believe wear blue dresses with a kind of folk look.

The Choir

We note the Pfälzer Weinkehlchen e.V, bit do not know a great deal about the choir as this time. A German children' choir describes itself, "Der Chor besteht im Moment aus ca. 40 Jugendlichen im Alter von 6 - 15 Jahren. Neue Mitsänger sind gerne willkommen, kommt, einfach dienstags zwischen 17:30 Uhr und 19:30 Uhr in die Chorprobe in das Weinkehlchenhaus. Das Weinkehlchenhaus befindet sich in der Wallgasse in Neustadt, in der Nähe von A, der Ostschule, der Festwiese oder der OFD." The choir consists of about 40 children and youths from 6-15 years. New members are welcome.

Location

I am not sure where the Choir is located, but it is a West German choir.

Training

We do not have a great amount of information about the Pfälzer Weinkehlchen Choir training program. It is not a residential choir with an elaborate daily training program. Rather the training appears to be limited to once a week. The Choir rehearsal is every tuesdays 17.30-19.30. This is adequate for the choir's folk reportoire. Folk songs are not as demanding as the classical music performed by some of the better known choirs. The Choir does sponsor summer camps which include more intensive training.

Foundation

The choir was founded in 1949, a fewc years after World War II. The Choir proved very popular and soon about 100 children and youths were participating. I'm not sure who founded the Choir or who sponsors it.

Choir Name

A German reader writes, "Ihe choir's name seems a little kitschy or mawkish. A literal translation of the choir name to English sounds a littly silly: "Palatinate Vine little throats". Maybe they chose the term "kehlchen" to refer to a "Rotkehlchen" = robin bird. We notice little birds on the choir logo.

Activities

The Choir organizes summer camps for the choir members. We have no information about these summer camps at this time.

Performances

The choir has performed in China, England, France, Ireland, Italy (in Rome before the pope), and Russia. The choir sang in front of Queen Elizabeth II in 1965 and in front of presiden Ronald Reaganin 1985 . The Choir has performed together with famous stars like Hansjürgen Hoffmann and Montserrat Caballé.

Music

The Choir's reportoire seems to be mostly folk music. We have little precise information on the songs they scene. Many of their songs were done with guitar accompaniment.

Choir Costume

The Pfälzer Weinkehlchen costumes are based on the local traditioinal (folk) dress. The boys unlike the girls do not have caps. They wear red double-breasted vests or waistcoats with black bows. The boys originally performed in black short pants and white kneesocks. They wear lace up leather shoes. The girls wear destinctive white caps and blue dresses with a kind of folk look. They also wore white kneesocks, but with black strap shoes. There has been little change over time. The Choir changed to long black pants, I think in the 1980s. The girls now wear the same stule of blue dresses, but with longer hems.