Musical project

SWING !

Bremen, Germany, from 19 to 26 october 2025

Musical and artistic direction Géraldine Marmier and Erwan Tacher

A Captivating and Eclectic Program !

Get ready for a musical journey like no other! “Swing 2025” blends Baroque sophistication with infectious swing rhythms, creating a diverse and vibrant repertoire that showcases the evolution of vocal jazz and its iconic voices.

From the intricate harmonies of Bach, already hinting at jazz’s improvisational spirit, to timeless swing standards, the program celebrates the genre’s roots and revolutionary impact. Emerging in the 1930s from the fusion of African and European musical traditions, swing brought joy and rebellion during the Great Depression and became a powerful symbol of freedom – both in the US, where integrated bands defied racial barriers, and in Europe, where jazz became a form of resistance under Nazi oppression.

This year’s repertoire draws from a wide palette – from German cabaret and French chanson to North American scat and even a nod to The Beatles. “Swing 2025” promises a joyful, immersive experience full of rhythm, emotion, and creative expression. ✨

 Program Highlights :

    • Aria from Suite No. 3 (J.S. Bach, 1730/1963)
    • It Don’t Mean a Thing (D. Ellington, I. Mills, 1931)
    • Wochenend und Sonnenschein (Comedian Harmonists, M. Ager, C. Amberg, 1930)
    • Mein kleiner grüner Kaktus (Comedian Harmonists, B. Reisfeld, R. Marbot, 1934)
    • Jazz Trio (instrumental)
    • A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (M. Sherwin, E. Maschwitz, 1939/1982)
    • Les feuilles mortes (J. Prévert, J. Kosma, 1949)
    • Dansez sur moi (Girl Talk: N. Hefti, 1965 — French adaptation C. Nougaro, 1973)
    • Oh! C’est divin (H.A. Simon, B. Vian, 1957)
    • Jazz Trio (instrumental)
    • Blackbird (The Beatles, 1968)
    • Belleville Rendez-vous (B. Charest, S. Chomet, 2003)
    • Mackie Messer (Mack the Knife) (K. Weill, 1928/2025)
    • Guten Abend, gut’ Nacht (Anonymous — J. Brahms, 1868/2006)
    • Ein Tag wie Gold (M. Raabe & A. Humpe, 2022)

This festive, ambitious program offers a musical experience full of emotion, harmony, and rhythm – a true celebration of the joy of singing together.

This workshop is designed to improve choral skills and is aimed at enthusiastic adult singers of a good level who already have experience of choral singing and sing in a choir.

Teaching objectives :

  • Bodywork: breathing, movement, posture
  • Rhythmic work: tempo stability, binary/ternary difference, musical phrasing in vocal jazz
  • Vocal technique: exploration of resonance zones and voice types according to style, support and work on the diaphragm, reducing tension for freer singing, etc.

During the course, the works are worked on in groups of voices and in tutti. Every day there are vocal training and vocal technique exercises, choir coaching by vocal group and individual vocal advice from the singing teachers.

Preparation for the work prior to the project is required. Details of the score version chosen and musical aids can be found on the ‘Score & Learning’ page.

Communication is in German and French, depending on the situation, with occasional indications in English.

The Concert

The choir will be accompanied by the jazz trio ‘Pepper Club the Band’, piano, bass and drums, in the main hall of the Gemeindehaus St. Pauli.

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