ASSISTANCE FROM OUR SOCIETY

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 A choir takes its position on stage. At the conductor’s prompt, the singers launch into a pitch-perfect rendition of a traditional song. Their voices create an otherworldly atmosphere. Not a sound from the audience. And now the singers seamlessly change tack as they joyously begin a folk song. The voices are pure and clear, the choreography fluid and precise. 

The singers are not mature-age, 'professional' vocalists but the youth choir, Vokalensemble Incantanti, from canton Graubünden. They sing in many languages, presenting creative contemporary concerts. They sing in Romansh too, in traditional costumes, to promote the regional heritage. 

With their versatile repertoire, and first-class performance, Vokalensemble Incantanti also participate in international song contests, with regular success. At Lisbon Sings 2022 in Portugal, the choir achieved awards in various categories. 

But for those Down Under there was a special connection with the Lisbon performance. In the choir’s front row a young woman, Lena, proudly wears an authentic Schamser Festtagstracht which had spent its 70 years life in Australia.  

 It had been decades since the original owner wore this Tracht. It belonged to Heidi Tagmann (Adelheid Eggleston-Tagmann 1923–2021) whose story appeared in Swiss Community News issue 244, November 2021. Heidi spent her early years in Arosa. In Switzerland, Heidi met an Australian airman, Frederic Eggleston, who was recouperating after escaping from a train transporting Italian POWs to Germany. Heidi and Frederic married in 1944 and in 1945 they set sail for Australia, which was to become their home. In 1953 Heidi and her three children travelled back to Graubünden to visit her parents. 

It was during this 1953 holiday, that Heidi visited the renowned Trachten Atelier of Dora Cavelti in Chur and had a Tracht, with all accoutrements, made to order. Back in Australia, Heidi wore her Tracht to social functions. After her passing in 2021, her daughter Susanne Moir, with the assistance of SCCS member Margrit Bachmann, tried without success to find a suitable home for Heidi’s Tracht. The Bündner Tracht had been kept in pristine condition, it had embroidery of superior craftsmanship, it had memories, it deserved respect. Its fate of vanishing into mothballs or a Vinny’s rack in Sydney was unthinkable.

It was one of those happy coincidences that an SCCS committee member came upon an appeal on the internet from Vokalensemble Incantanti for Schamser Festtagstrachten that the choir might borrow for their performances. With the blessing of Heidi’s daughter, the Tracht was offered as a gift to Vokalensemble. The donation was a perfect fit. It would support a youth choir who brought joy to others through many hours practising their craft.

In 2022 Heidi’s Tracht  travelled from Sydney and was delivered in person to a choir member in Graubünden, and shortly afterwards it was to be seen, with a new lease of life, in the ensemble’s vibrant performances. On viewing the choir on the internet, and seeing her mother’s Tracht in its purposeful new role, Heidi’s daughter Susanne was overwhelmed with emotion. The Tracht had been welcomed home.

Three CDs of Vokalensemble Incantanti songs from celebrated Bündner composer Tumasch Dolf and others, were gifted to SCCS. As Regula Scheidegger, president of SCCS remarked: 'This is perfect singing. No wonder the choir has won different awards and competitions. I was quite touched by the beauty of these recordings and although I’m not familiar with the music of these two Bündner composers, the words are magnificent and their works are little gems. On the one hand, so locally created, on the other, so universally true and touching'.

The story of Heidi’s Tracht has come full circle in a very satisfying way, but it isn’t finished yet. The now globetrotting Tracht may return Down Under – that is, across the ditch, for a brief visit, for the World Choir Games in Auckland, NZ in July 2024.