Happy Tunes with Father Gerold

USA, Judy Harlowe. Special programs during retreats at the Schoenstatt International Center in Waukesha, in Ohio, in Illinois and in Minnesota often include Fr. Gerold Langsch playing his keyboard and singing. Soon, members of the Schoenstatt family will be able to take Fr. Gerold’s music home with them or listen to his music on the way to work, to Church or to family gatherings.

Fr. Gerold’s first CD, aptly named “Happy Tunes With Father Gerold”, has been launched last week. During mid-May, Fr Gerold wrapped up the taping for the CD, a task which took a lot longer than he originally anticipated. “It was much more tedious than I thought,” he said recently. “I invested at least 80 or 90 hours in it,” and the engineer put in even more time.

Financing the education of US-American seminarians

Still, Fr. Gerold is happy with the results and with the fact the proceeds from the project will help finance the education of three Schoenstatt seminarians. “I want to do it for the seminarians,” he said, referring to Philip Carlson of Minnesota, Mark Leatherman of Texas and Jeff Roedel of Milwaukee. All three began their studies in South America a year and a half ago, and are doing well, according to Fr. Gerold, who said, “They’re in practicum now in Argentina.” People may not realize this fact, but the Schoenstatt Fathers in the United States are responsible for paying for the seminarians’ education, and that cost is approximately $7,000 per seminarian per year.

Music and Fr. Gerold

Music and Fr. Gerold go back a long way, to his childhood in Germany. “I came from a very musical family,” Fr. Gerold said, explaining his father played the piano and violin and one brother was an excellent organist. “We all played instruments.” Fr. Gerold kept up piano lessons for two years, and then continued to play the piano and later the keyboard. When his schedule becomes exceedingly tense, Fr. Gerold often turns to the keyboard for relaxation. “I bought the keyboard with headphones… I didn’t want a piano because I did not want to disturb anybody,” he said. “It’s very relaxing for me.” Not only does Fr. Gerold play well, but he has been able to hone a skill in writing musical lyrics. “I have written poems,” he said. “That’s another family trait.”

For the CD, which cost $15, Fr. Gerold included the song “Oh God, How Great Thou Art” with new words, and he took a German song called Home Sweet Home, and put English text to it. “Happy Tunes with Fr. Gerold” includes 25 songs, featuring German and American folk songs, one Spanish folk sing (El Pescador, “The Fisherman of Men”) and some religious songs.

When asked which song is his favorite, Fr. Gerold said it is one dedicated to the Blessed Mother called, “We Fly to Thy Patronage.” Written in the fourth century for the Byzantine liturgy, “It’s the oldest Marian prayer,” he said, explaining each CD will also include a booklet with all the texts on it.

Fr. Gerold not only sings all the songs on the CD, but he provides background music with the keyboard and the sounds of all the various instruments it offers, like the flute, the oboe, and clarinet. “To mix it together, it makes a beautiful background. “It’s like an orchestra,” he said.

Concerning the response on his first venture with a CD, Fr. Gerold said, “so far it has been very positive.”

Concert in Waukesha

A total of 2,500 CDs have been ordered for the first printing, according to Fr. Gerold. While the CD venture started out in the United States, Fr. Gerold is hoping people from Europe will also want to purchase it. “I will take them over to Germany, too,” he said. The CD includes a picture of Fr. Gerold in front of a fireplace at a home in Ohio, and on the back of the CD is him at St. Jerome’s Church in Oconomowoc where he gave a concert several months ago. Fr. Gerold loves the title, “Happy Tunes With Fr. Gerold.” I thought about that title. I think those words express it best.”

For the lauch of the CD, Fr. Gerold gave a concert at the Provincial House in Waukesha, WI. on Sunday, June 12th.

The CDs are available at the International Center in Waukesha or online via www.SchoenstattWisconsin.org