Tanunda Liedertafel

Tanunda Liedertafel is a 52-member male choir in Tanunda, South Australia. Drawing its four-part singing material from traditional popular German culture, the group's origins may date back at least to 1861, based on a surviving music book case with the words "Tanunda Liedertafel 1861" painted on its metal lid.

The choir was re-organized in 1920 and, aside from an interruption caused by World War II has been active ever since, primarily in Tanunda and Adelaide. Along with third- and fourth-generation German-Australians, the group includes singers with Dutch, English, Polish, Scottish, Welsh and Irish backgrounds.Many of their performances are for charity. An annual event is the "Kaffee Abend" in mid-November.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has recorded the Liedertafel several times since 1932. The choir first performed on television in 1961 for its centenary. It has also appeared on programs broadcast in Germany. In 1963, Tanunda Liedertafel performed for Queen Elizabeth II in Elder Park, Adelaide. In 2001 it performed in Adelaide for US President Bill Clinton.

Awards have included the Zelter Plaque (1980).

Practices are held for two hours each Tuesday night, eleven months out of the year (although members are no longer fined three pence for tardiness, or six pence for missing practice).

External links

* [http://www.alt1858.org/History/history_en.htm Brief history of Liedertafel]
* [http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/dnutting/germanaustralia/e/traditions-01.htm German Traditions of Barossa/Tanunda]