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Music in Our Culture

For Mennonite people music has always been an important part of family and church life. Whether playing instruments or singing a cappela, music is everywhere.

2

Two Generations Sing
26 February 2004
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada
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3

Mennonites have been singing hymns in harmonies for many years.

Tony Wiebe and his son Ray Wiebe have both sung in Mennonite Brethern Quartettes for many years. Tony came to Canada from Russia in 1925 and sang with a number of different men over the years, including Bill Thiessen, Henry Voth, Jake Voth, John Regier, George Penner and Jake Klippenstein. The first Mennonite Brethern Church he attended was in the Greenfarm area just south of Herbert and he later sang in the Herbert Mennonite Brethern Church.

Tony describes large inter-church Mass Choirs that took place in the 1940's and 1950's. A conductor would come into the community, lead the choir, give voice lessons and produce a large program at the end of his stay.

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Mennonite Brethern Male Quartette
1978
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada
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5

Three of these quartette members still sing together at many functions and many church services today. From left to right: Walter Neufeld, Ray Wiebe, Frank Braun, Henry Braun and Elvira Neufeld, pianist. Walter Neufeld has been replaced by Jack Hamm and the pianist now is Elsie Peterson.

The photo appears on one of their record jackets.

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Quartette Song
1978
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada

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Words of Song by the Mennonite Brethern Quartette:

"Jesus, Wonderful Name, Sweeter than all the world to me.
Jesus, ever the same, now and through all eternity."

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Singer Don Mathies with his mother Katie Mathies
19 August 2003
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada
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9

Don Mathies has been singing actively for a number of years at Gospel Jamborees, special Musical Concerts, church services, weddings and Community events. He is a full time farmer and a fourth generation resident of the Herbert community.

He is seen here with his mother, Katie (Gerbrandt) Mathies.

10

The Old Rugged Cross
1993
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada

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The familiar traditional hymn by George Bennard is sung here by Don Mathies, a fourth generation farmer in Herbert community.

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown."

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Singer Kim
3 April 2004
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada
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13

Kim Jahnke is a true Herbert Mennonite girl. Both of her parents were from Herbert, her grandparents, both maternal and paternal were from Herbert and her great-grandparents were also all from the Herbert area.

Kim's family attends the Mennonite Brethern church in the town of Herbert and Kim is very active musically. She has sung in a Provincial choir, with a Jazz choir in Swift Current, and she also sings solos and plays piano.

14

Amazing Grace
March, 2004
Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada