Tann's Candlelit Advent Concerts Celebrate 20 Years of Tradition and Unity

A Beacon of Light: Twenty Years of "Advent Music by Candlelight" in Tann

When the town church of Tann glows with the warm light of hundreds of candles at 6 p.m. on Advent Sundays, it marks a beloved tradition during the most contemplative season of the year.

For two decades now, the series "Advent Music by Candlelight" has invited people to pause amid the pre-Christmas hustle—offering local musicians, spiritual reflections, and a communal closing hymn, "Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates."

What began in 2005 as a bold experiment has since become a cornerstone of Advent in the Rhön region. Pastor Wilhelm Laakmann and cantor Thomas Nüdling first envisioned a simple yet atmospheric fusion of music and word.

"We wanted to create something that speaks to both heart and soul," Laakmann recalls, "a space to breathe."

A year earlier, in 2004, they had tested the idea at Haus Noah: beneath a lovingly decorated Christmas tree, Nüdling played seasonal pieces on the piano while Laakmann wove in words, thoughts, and prayers.

"The response was overwhelmingly positive," Nüdling says. "We could sense right away: this had potential." Laakmann adds, "We were practically bursting with the idea of turning it into something unique."

So the two sat down and crafted their vision: on each of the four Advent Sundays, Tann's town church would host a short evening concert featuring choirs, instrumental ensembles, and spiritual reflections.

When they met at noon on the day of the first performance in November 2005, their expectations were modest. "We hoped for fifty people," Nüdling admits. "But when the church filled up, it exceeded all we'd imagined."

From that evening on, the series grew into a cherished regional secret: roughly 30 minutes of Advent music and readings by local artists and theologians, set in a candlelit, heated church.

At the heart of its success was the collaboration between Laakmann and Nüdling. Each brought distinct strengths—theological depth and musical creativity—and together, they forged a partnership that went far beyond mere coordination.

"We complemented each other well," Nüdling says. "We understood how the other thought and what mattered to them."

Laakmann describes their time together as "a collaboration on equal footing. We planned, we created, and we inspired one another."

To this day, visitors sense that the series isn't just two separate programs side by side, but the fruit of a genuine, organic partnership.

"Perhaps that's the secret of these Advent concerts," Laakmann reflects. "Neither of us could have carried this alone—but together, we created something that resonates."

In 2010, Laakmann moved to a new parish and considered establishing the tradition there. "But it quickly became clear that the interplay of space, atmosphere, tradition, music, and people was uniquely tied to Tann," he says.

Nüdling agrees: "You can copy a format, but not its spirit. In Tann, everything fits."

The Advent Music series exemplifies how a fresh idea can flourish on ancient liturgical and musical roots.

"We never set out to be revolutionary," Nüdling explains. "Just to let the old shine anew."

Laakmann adds, "Maybe that's why it works: familiar elements—prayer, music, silence, light—presented in a way that speaks to people today."

When each concert closes with the shared hymn "Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates," it unites all voices—and tells the story of twenty years of candlelit Advent music.

A story of courage, trust, and the power of small ideas that grow.

And of the countless people who, for two decades, have gathered in the glow of candles to find what so many still seek in Advent: peace, hope, and a measure of light.