Ensemble presents itself in top form

Dr. Achim Brötel, chairman of the town band's supporters, presented a cheque for 3000 euros. The money will be used to support youth work.

Despite the not exactly Christmassy weather and the occasional rain, the town band Buchen and their "young talent department" called youth band succeeded on Sunday in getting their numerous fans in the mood for the Christmas season at the traditional Advent concert in the museum courtyard: The colourful programme included a fresh mix of international Christmas classics.

Immediately after the short welcome by chairman Christian Schulze, the musicians, aged between ten and 17, of the youth band conducted by Lisa Helmle unpacked their instruments to demonstrate their remarkable skills: The medley "The Gift Of Christmas" bundled popular Christmas hits, while the generation-uniting evergreen "Last Christmas" in particular offered an inspiring interplay of woodwinds and brass. Also "Here Comes Santa Claus" proved to be an atmospheric messenger of the holidays, combining Christmassy cosiness with a slightly jazzy touch. With the potpourri consisting of "Deck The Halls", "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells", the musicians finally invited the audience to join in the fun and received rich applause. The town band does not suffer from problems with young musicians - and the "ABC-Band", to which numerous young musicians belonged, will also rehearse again next spring with a new line-up.

The extremely pleasant listening pleasure was interrupted by a donation handover in favour of youth work: As the 1st chairman of the town band's support association, District Administrator Dr. Achim Brötel took the floor and thanked for the active commitment, before he and his deputy Volker Henn presented the symbolic cheque for 3,000 euros to Chairman Christian Schulze, Treasurer Annette Bischoff and the conductors Lisa Hähnle and Alexander Monsch. The money will be used for youth work: "We are dependent on the next generation and must support them to the best of our ability in order to ensure the continued existence of our wonderful town band," Brötel explained the donation.

The fact that the town band is a cultural institution in Buchen that is worth preserving and important, was subsequently proven by the ensemble playing in absolute top form under the direction of its conductor Alexander Monsch. Once again this year, the town band was able to please with a tastefully compiled, quite demanding programme. In addition to the lively hit "Jingle Bells", the audience also enjoyed the thoughtful, anthem-like melody of "Adeste Fideles", the stylishly staged German classics "Oh du Fröhliche" and "Oh Tannenbaum", the lively "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano and of course the legendary "Petersburg Sleigh Ride". Whoever listened here enjoyed perfect rhythm work and excellent arrangements, through whose beats pure joy of life shone.

Christian Schulze's thanks to all participants and the enthusiastic listeners after the last chord by no means marked the end of the afternoon: many visitors stayed in the museum courtyard at least for one or two cups of mulled wine.