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Moravian Music Festival

Christian Hearts in Love United

ONLINE ~ July, 2021
IN-PERSON ~ July, 2022

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Moravian Music Festival

This page is designed for churches and media outlets to provide information to disseminate; to assist in providing background and context for the Festivals.

About the Festival

The most-ever-connected Festival will include a robust menu of music, opportunities, and sessions. For both the adult and children/youth programs, the music introduced during the 2021 sessions will be carried forward to the 2022 sessions.

^ One Festival Over Two Years

This summer (2021), we will gather to share and learn about Moravian music, without the limits of time and place.

The Festival Planning Committee and Moravian Music Foundation staff have been working to re-imagine a Festival, in July of 2021, with a wealth of online content and connectivity: both live-streamed and pre-recorded – concerts, rehearsals, workshops, lectures, lessons, master classes, social events, round tables, collaborations, and much more, with special content and activities for youth and children!

[ please see the Children and Youth pages for specifics about the ACTS musical theater production ]

Since we will not have the usual opportunities for concerts and recitals, in-person, the 2021 Festival will be more focused on learning and sharing.

Then in July of 2022, the Festival Committee is optimistically making plans to convene a shorter in-person Festival in Bethlehem, PA for live performances of some of the music learned the previous summer. More details to come.

The Festival Experience
^ Public Concerts

No Tickets Required.
Festival concerts have always been shared with the community.

Since, this year, the Festival is online, links to the concerts are shared within the listings and descriptions of each concert.

More About Concerts
^ History of the Festivals

Beginning in the 1930s and 1940s, scholars and musicians discovered a veritable treasure trove of music in the archives of the Moravian Church in America – manuscripts, early printed music, much of it in German. As they explored more, they were awestruck at the quantity of music, and the variety of composers – those known to be Moravian, and those known in wider musical circles.

Working with American-born and trained conductor, Thor Johnson (son of a Moravian minister and native of Winston-Salem, NC), a group of clergy and laypersons in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, decided to hold an Early American Moravian Music Festival and Seminar, in Bethlehem, on June 26-July 2, 1950.

Since then, the Moravians have planned and hosted 23 more Festivals, and in 2017, will host the 25th Moravian Music Festival in Winston-Salem, NC.

Past Festivals
^ The Moravian Musical Heritage

Moravian excellence in music dates back to the beginnings of the Renewed Moravian Church in Herrnhut, Germany, formed in 1723. These early Moravians, made up of followers of Bohemian Protestant reformer, Jan Hus, began to write hymns specific to their theology and expressing their heart religious devotion to the Savior. The Unitas Fratrum had emphasized hymns in native languages and education for all brothers and sisters. They established schools, following Moravian Bishop Jan Amos Comenius’s leadership and education always included music. Thereby, skilled musicians and composers enriched the worship and community life of Moravians from the beginning.

When these German Moravian settlers arrived in America, they established Bethlehem, Nazareth and Lititz in Pennsylvania. When the Wachovia tract was purchased in 1753, they began to plan on a much larger scale, building Bethabara, then Bethania, before carving the town of Salem out of the wilderness, and forming congregations at Friedland and Friedberg and Hope.

In Bethabara, they imported the first organ to NC. A set of trombones was sent soon after. The Wachovia Moravians entertained, with instruments and singing, visitors such as Governor and Lady Tryon in 1767 and later, President George Washington.

In Bethlehem, travelers such as Benjamin Franklin commented on the fine music present in the everyday lives of the Moravians.

These accomplished musical Moravians did not seek accolades or approval from the public, but wanted to offer the best music in praise to their Savior, Jesus Christ. Excellent music, singing, playing enhanced the worship experience and was valued as a gift from God, not praised for the achievement of the musician. With the exception of some instrumental music, the text is of utmost importance and the instrumental parts serve only to enhance the message. This approach survives today in the practice of Moravian composers and musicians.

Brother John Antes made some of the first string instruments in America and Brother David Tannenberg was the first American organ builder. Br. Antes also composed the first chamber music written by an American. Brother Johann F. Peter wrote the earliest known chamber music in America.

Moravian Composers

The list of Moravian composers is over 50, and still increasing. Some names to note and/or research:
John Antes Christian LaTrobe
Johann Christian Bechler Edward Leinbach
Christian Ludwig Brau Heinrich Lonas
Jeremiah Dencke David Moritz Michael
Ernst Immanuel Erbe J. F. Peter
Johann Ludwig Freydt Simon Peter
John Gambold, Jr. Johann Till
Joh. Gottfried Gebhard Jacob Van Vleck
Christian Geisler Amelia Van Vleck
Johann Geisler Lisetta Van Vleck
Christian Gregor Woldemar Voullaire
Johann Daniel Grimm Peter Wolle
Franz Florentin Hagen Frederick Wolle
Johannes Herbst John Worthington
Christian Jaeschke

And prolific hymn-writers:
Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf
Henriette Louise von Hayn
Frederick William Foster
James Montgomery
E. Artis Weber
and so many others

These Moravians continued writing music for worship and for pleasure throughout the nineteenth century. Into the twentieth century, men and women in the Moravian church have written countless songs, hymns, hymn texts, anthems, organ works, orchestral music and music for bands and various instrumental ensembles.

The Moravian Musical Heritage

Interviews, Audio, Video, Narrative, etc.

Links to several items of interest:

  • November 2020 article 26th Festival
  • 2017 Interview Nola R. Knouse
  • 2003 and 2016 Interviews
  • Other Interviews
  • Photos from 2017
  • Photos from 2013
  • Music from 21st and 25th Festivals
  • Video Introduction to Festival
  • Unity Brass Festival 2018
  • Moravian Music Festival 2017

Contact us for interviews or specific questions!

www.moravianmusic.org


Office

Archie K Davis Center
457 S Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Hours

Mon-Fri:
9:30am – 4:30pm

Via Email

info@moravianmusic.org
sales@moravianmusic.org
sarah@moravianmusic.org

Via Phone

in Winston-Salem: 336-725-0651
in Bethlehem:
610-866-3340

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Festival, history, Moravian, music, narrative

ACTS Youth Musical Theater

ACTS is the main focus for the Children’s and Youth Program for the 26th Festival, with lots of other fun activities and programs.
For a wide range of ages!

ONLINE ONLY for 2021


Children will be learning music and dialogue for a musical theater production with an historic Moravian theme.

Youth have options to play a role in ACTS or to work on production for the musical. They also have options to sing in the Chorus or play in the Band.


All the Details

Filed Under: Registrant Info

Protected: Sessions for Registrants

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Filed Under: Protected Area

Contact Us


Moravian Music Festival

a celebration of music, created with inspiration, and presented with joy.


Public Concerts & Services
Festival YouTube
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Children & Youth Program Leaders

You are welcome to reach out directly to leaders of your child’s program area.

Sarah Hriniak

ACTS Director

ACTS Musical Theater Production Leader; Director of the Youth Musical Theater production of ACTS.

CONTACT

Myra Jones

Children’s Program Leader

Children’s Activities Leader and others will be assisting with all the activities that are not directly related to ACTS.

CONTACT

Lynnette Delbridge

Youth Program Leader

Program Leader for Middle and High School Youth will facilitate the social gathering of youth, manage online connections and other activities.

Contact

Moravian Music Foundation Staff
& Festival Committee Contacts

(click on names for email)

For Payments, Donations, Packets, Registration Information

Sarah Durham

336-725-0651

For Sessions, Music Editions, Concerts, Concert Programs & Odes, Sponsorships

Nola Reed Knouse

336-725-0651

For Schedules, Virtual Recording Projects, Website, Publicity

Erik Salzwedel

336-725-0651

For Sessions, Music Editions, Sponsorships, Copyright, Children’s Music, Volunteers

Gwyneth Michel

610-866-3340

For General Questions about Festival Planning, Scheduling, Facilities, etc. and Offers to Volunteer

Hank Naisby

Chair, Festival Planning Comm.

For Technical Questions about Zoom, YouTube, and other Platforms

Technical Issues (TBD)

Technical Help

The Festival is managed by the

Moravian Music Foundation

www.moravianmusic.org


Office

Archie K Davis Center
457 S Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

and

Moravian Archives
41 W Locust Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018

Via Email

info@moravianmusic.org
sales@moravianmusic.org
sarah@moravianmusic.org

Via Phone

in Winston-Salem: 336-725-0651
in Bethlehem:
610-866-3340

www.MoravianMusic.org

Filed Under: FAQ

Concert Calendar


Festival Concerts, Worship Services, and Preludes
Free and Open to the Public


Upcoming Festival Public Events

  • July 18, 2021
    • Sunday Evening ServiceSunday Evening ServiceTime: 7:00 pm
      7:00pm: Prelude Music
      7:30pm: Lovefeast
      A Moravian worship service of word and music.
      YouTube + Google calendar
  • July 19, 2021
    • Monday ConcertMonday ConcertTime: 7:00 pm
      7:00pm: Devotions
      7:15pm: Prelude Music
      7:30pm: Vocal Concert w Chamber Orchestra
      Mary Wilson, soprano
      YouTube + Google calendar
  • July 20, 2021
    • Tuesday ConcertTuesday ConcertTime: 7:00 pm
      7:00pm: Devotions
      7:15pm: Prelude Music
      7:30pm: Concert featuring "Five Tannenbergs" (organs) and "Organs Around the World"
      YouTube + Google calendar
  • July 21, 2021
    • Wednesday ConcertWednesday ConcertTime: 7:00 pm
      7:00pm: Devotions
      7:15pm: Prelude Music
      7:30pm: (Program To Be Determined) A variety of Moravian groups, chamber ensembles, handbell choirs, etc., presenting music through the ages.
      YouTube + Google calendar
  • July 22, 2021
    • Thursday ConcertThursday ConcertTime: 7:00 pm
      7:00pm: Devotions
      7:15pm: Prelude Music
      7:30pm: Brass & Chamber Music Night
      a compilation of music groups from around the world
      YouTube + Google calendar
  • July 23, 2021
    • Friday ConcertFriday ConcertTime: 7:00 pm
      7:00pm: Devotions
      7:15pm: Prelude Music
      7:30pm: Concert of Virtual Choir and Virtual Band, Music Video, Children's Song, Benediction
      YouTube + Google calendar

At those performances, everyone realized that here was something momentous; here was musical history in the making,
not only for the Moravian Church, but for the United States as a whole. – Mary Virginia Borhek (1950, at the first Festival)


(click on any item to see details)

Calendar of Public Concerts and Worship Services

< April 2021 >
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Categories
 Services
 Public Concerts

Filed Under: FAQ

Festival Concert Programs


Concert Programs & Odes


When the entire congregation, the hundred-and-more voiced choir, the considerable orchestra, the organ and the forty-piece brass choir united at the close of the service in one tremendous voice: “Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord,” there could not have been a soul there who was not shaken to the very wellsprings of his being…
– Mary Virginia Borhek (1950, at the first Festival)


PDF files of concert programs will be posted here, when available.


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See Festival Calendar for Concert Details

Filed Under: FAQ Tagged With: concerts, Moravian, music

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