An extract from :
My Time in Kassel, December 2001 – September 2002
by Hugh Waldock
The Kassel Bach Choir was in its twenty-fifth
anniversary year under the leadership of Herr Norbert
Ternes, choirmaster and organist of the Adventskirche
on the Germaniastraße which is where rehearsals took
place every Thursday evening. During my time there,
we sang Bach’s St Matthew Passion in German two times.
Back then, I was singing countertenor and was the only male
stationed amongst around fifteen to twenty female
altos. We rehearsed for four months. Herr Norbert
Ternes was a very thorough choirmaster who was both
stern and sensitive in equal measure. Kasseler Bachchor
was his brainchild. It won him the freedom of the city.
He was a loyal member of staff at the Kassel Music
Academy and Kassel Bach Choir was established as one
of the great concert choirs of the area. They sang with an
amazing sincerity and expression in every chorale whilst
rehearsing every point to the bitter end. For an amateur
concert choir, Ternes achieved nothing short of
excellence in every note. I appreciated him very much.
In terms of work rate he was second to none. We
performed once in
Fritzlar Cathedral and once in Kassel at the big church
called St Martins.