A Special Birthday Celebration

Christof-Andreas and Norma Lindenberg with LANA Board member Sheila Johns

August 20, 2022 was the date of Christof-Andreas Lindenberg’s 90st birthday, but being in the midst of summer travel time, it was only on October 14/15 that the Lyre Association of North America organized a festive concert weekend in his honor. It was a mighty celebration, paying tribute in a variety of ways, to a long life dedicated to music and healing!

Eleven lyrists from across the US (Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Boston, Massachusetts; Central Virginia; as well as Ithaca, Chestnut Ridge, and Columbia County, New York) and abroad (Ecuador and Ireland) joined five local lyrists and several local singers to rehearse all day on Friday, followed by a dress rehearsal on Saturday morning in preparation for a concert performed that afternoon at the Karl Koenig Schoolhouse in Camphill School Beaver Run, the home of Christof-Andreas and his wife Norma for over 30 years. Not only the residential school community, but also many friends from nearby filled the hall on this beautiful autumn day to listen to a program of lyre and choral music composed by CAL over the past 70 years. The music was introduced by various performers as well as the composer himself, sharing the background or memories connected to individual pieces, which added colorful snippets of Christof-Andreas’s life to the program.

Musicians Preparing for the Concert

Who knew that CAL’s “Michaelmas Round” (“Michaelmas, the time to show both courage and form”) had been used ‘ad hoc’ for a workshop at the Michaelmas Conference at the Goetheanum in 2000 and would end up being sung in the Great Hall by all the participants?!

Sheila Johns introducing one of the concert pieces

Or how about “Explore the Lyre I” (composed in 1965 as one of six pieces) which was performed at the Lyre Teacher’s Guild meeting in 1971 by 51 lyre teachers, also in the Great Hall of the Goetheanum, with Julius Knierim, who was conducting, suggesting that Part B should be sounded as a response from high up in the gallery, thereby exploring the great acoustics of the hall?!

Christof-Andreas greets Adola McWilliam at the concert

“The Three Soul Forces” is another piece with a long history. Having been composed originally in 1977 for a Mystery Drama conference, it has been performed in various parts of the world ever since, most notably as part of the score for the marionette performance of Goethe’s “The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily”.

The music that is resounding strongest in me while writing this report is the closing piece of the concert, sung (as was the opening round) with participation of the audience: “Michael, Hero of the Sun” (in 3 parts). Never before have I heard it ring out so victoriously, reflecting the deep appreciation we all share for Christof-Andreas’s music and his presence in our lives!

Norma Lindenberg and Beaver Run student count off nine decades of Christof-Andreas’ life to open the concert

LANA BOARD members (L-R) Margo Ketchem, Debbie Barford, Sally Willig, Nancy Carpenter, Sheila Johns, Diane Barnes, Julia Elliott, Colleen Shetland

Although the concert was the artistic highlight of the weekend, it also served the purpose of allowing for a meeting of the LANA Board Members, who were able to assemble for the first time in person again after three long years of only conference call meetings.  Two of those Board members had never even met before!

There were several lovely meals organized for us, including a festive Birthday lunch and an after-concert dessert celebration prepared by the Beaver Run community just for the musicians with Christof-Andreas, which was highlighted by the singing of a rather complex birthday round that he himself had composed for this occasion, and which featured just about one cake for each decade of his life! This was followed by a special time of sharing memories and tributes to Christof-Andreas.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this memorable weekend, and especially to Veronika Roemer, Sheila Johns, and Margo Ketchum for orchestrating and preparing this heartfelt gathering to recognize and honor Christof-Andreas Lindenberg and the modern lyre.

Christof-Andreas gives his thanks to all.

 Christina Porkert, Kinderhook, NY