Just like today, and the decades that preceded where we are now, in the 1960s in Catholic Germany, there were reformers in the church who wanted to create sacred music that was updated to the times in which they lived. A priest named Manfred Karduck, who ministered at Haus Overbach Christian Center near Jülich (western Germany) founded the group Der Overbacher Jugendchor and an orchestra. Karduck was one of the first German music directors to bring (gasp!) drums into church services. He also founded a network of priests who were trying to reform traditional church music.
Der Overbacher Jugendchor’s first recordings were issued in 1969, but the group recorded at least 9 more 7″ singles across the 1970s. What I find particularly interesting about the group–besides what Karduck and company were trying to accomplish–was just how interesting the music is. Sure, it’s a far cry from punk rock, but it was an interesting and highly unusual blend of youth choir vocals with pop music stylings that drew from funk and soul influences, all while retaining a certain feel of church music.
Karduck and the group were part of much larger contemporary Christian music scene that flourished in 1970s Germany. Yes, just 3 decades after one of the most difficult and shameful times in German history. Finding and/or creating something positive to be a part of, after such a painful era, was going to be essential if German society (and its native church) was going to rebuild something in place of what had fairly recently been demolished.
“Schalom” comes from the group’s 4th single, and is the b-side to the song “Hallelujah.” Something about the song is mesmerizing to me. I hope you enjoy this rabbit trail into obscure 70s German Jesus music!
