User talk:Gerda Arendt

2026 talk

my story today

Yogo sapphires,
found only in Yogo Gulch, Montana,
on land once inhabited
by the Piegan Blackfeet people,
are considered by gemologists
among the finest sapphires in the world.
watch
30 June 2012
(from User:Gerda Arendt/Stories)

welcome

story · music · places
Mögen sich die Wege Mein Gott, wie schön ist deine Welt Das Wandern ist des Müllers Lust Je vous salue Marie Bleibe bei uns, du Wandrer durch die Zeit Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud For the beauty of the earth Segne, Vater, diese Gaben Nun jauchzt dem Herren, alle Welt Ave Maria ... und eine neue Welt Take the "A" Train

We moved from 2025 to 2026, with new calendar pictures and new music. The topic is to prepare peace, in small steps. You find a daily story, often with an image and something to listen to, a collection of music and memory related to a day, and images from places I visit: let's stay inspired and connected.

Ongoing efforts regard improving articles of people who recently died, music heard and sung, and their makers. Watch my user page for articles any given day, done in collaboration. Compare 2025 for the amazing number of users who began and expanded articles. Thanks also to reviewers, and I do plan to review more and write less, and in writing, focus more on quality than the little daily article. Last year, I finally began to also review GAs.

2026 calender pics and musical events are collected here, and the 2026 diary of my pictures of places, food, flowers ... is here, - just watch those lists if you are interested. The monthly images come with a list of songs related to friends as I meet or remember them, or remember their birthdays, for more music.

My talk goes like this: on top there's the "story" related to the day. Below this follow three or more boxes, often one for people remembered and others for musical experiences, performing or listening. In these boxes, topics related to the top story and topics featured on the Main page appear bold. I archive this talk from time to time. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:42, 5 January 2026 (UTC) - updated for new calendar pics and a different sequence --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:40, 1 February 2026 (UTC)

music memories

28 June · service St. Martin, Idstein Gott liebt diese Welt Nun jauchzt dem Herren, alle Welt Befiehl du deine Wege O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig Eine große Stadt ersteht · 30 + 31 May Denis Bédard: Organ Concerto Dan Forrest: Jubilate Deo Gabriel Dessauer, organ Cora Theobald, soprano Larissa Botos, alto Idsteiner Kantorei Chor St. Martin Martinis Nassauische Kammerphilharmonie Franz Fink and Carsten Koch, cond. · 2 May · Festkonzert 90th birthday of Franz Josef Hamm Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 Toccata und Fuge in D, BWV 565 Pergolesi: Salve Regina in c Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 Handel: Eternal Source of Light Divine

25 June · RMF Rheingau Musik Festival Kurhaus, Wiesbaden Tavener: Song for Athene Steven Sametz: Not an End of Loving Gabrieli: Omnes gentes plaudite manibus Machaut: Gloria Toby Twining: Hee-oo-oom-ha There is a Balm in Gilead Wade in the Water Stephen Foster: Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair Shenandoah Charlie Smalls: Home Gibbons: Oh Clap Your Hands Bobby McFerrin: Psalm 23 Pärt: The Deer's Cry Paul Simon: The Sound of Silence April in Paris John Kander: I Get a Kick Out of New York Scarborough Fair Lowry: Shall We Gather at the River? Schubert: Der Lindenbaum Voces8 Chanticleer

24 June · RMF Rheingau Musik Festival Eberbach Abbey Purcell: My Heart is Inditing Britten: Hymn to St Cecilia Purcell: Welcome to All the Pleasures, Hail! Bright Cecilia Voces8 Kammerchor of HfMdK Capella Academica

Happy Holidays

Thank you for the reminder. I'll give it an anchor, to quote in discussions ;) - I should perhaps make a list of DYK sentences I made which refer to peace, and perhaps make it the topic for 2026 ... (so far I thought about dedication and interesting stories). - Peaceful Holidays to you and yours! My song this year is funny, - look above. We'll sing the song of the angels (thank you for the illustration, and I'll add mine) on Christmas Eve, this year from Bach's Magnificat, one of three works by Bach for five voices, and "et in terra pax" (peace on earth) is especially expressive, listen. I should expand the section. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:06, 18 December 2025 (UTC)

happy new year

J. S. Bach led
the first performance of
Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16,
his church cantata for New Year's Day
to a libretto by Georg Christian Lehms
on 1 January 1726.
listen
1 January 2026

Begin with a thankful Bach cantata, including prayer for peace, and other great music. To collaboration and peace, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:13, 1 January 2026 (UTC)

Happy New Year and a barnstar for you!

		The Special Barnstar
		Happy New Year, Gerda Arendt! I have lost count of how many years now it has been that I have written this message on your user talk page, but here I am again in 2025. In the past year, other editors thanked you 1538 times using the thanks tool on the English Wikipedia. This made you the #2 most thanked Wikipedian in 2025. As you once told me, giving is better than receiving, and in 2025, you were also the #1 most thankful Wikipedian with 3132 uses of the thanks tool. As I said last year: congratulations and, well, thank you for all that you do for Wikipedia. Here's to 2026! Mz7 (talk) 05:13, 31 December 2025 (UTC)

Thank you so much, Mz7, - in words (which I still believe is the better way to thank)! I was curious and I found 2020. No. 1 is new, and that being in "thankful" is wanted! I'll move this into next year ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:03, 31 December 2025 (UTC)

friends' songs
Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud Herr, unser Herr, wie bist du zugegen O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig For the beauty of the earth ... und eine neue Welt Je vous salue Marie Möge die Straße uns zusammenführen Le Laudi Freuet euch der schönen Erde Viel Glück und viel Segen What the World Needs Now Is Love O du fröhliche

Promotion of Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110

Congratulations, Gerda Arendt! The article you nominated, Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110, has been promoted to featured status, recognizing it as one of the best articles on Wikipedia. The nomination discussion has been archived.

This is a rare accomplishment and you should be proud. If you would like, you may nominate it to appear on the Main page as Today's featured article. Keep up the great work! Cheers, Ian Rose (talk) via FACBot (talk) 11:06, 2 January 2026 (UTC)

Congrats dear Gerda--Symposiarch (talk) 11:07, 2 January 2026 (UTC)

Congratulation. Grimes2 17:09, 2 January 2026 (UTC)

1. Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110 - Ian Rose - 2 Jan
2. Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43 - FrB.TG - 10 Jun

DYK for Stanislaus Kennedy

On 3 January 2026, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Stanislaus Kennedy, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that the social work of Sister Stan was praised by two presidents of Ireland? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Stanislaus Kennedy. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Stanislaus Kennedy).

♠PMC♠ (talk) 00:02, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

The credit said: "Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to nominate it". Do you find interesting that two presidents praised her without being told for what? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:13, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Rudi Spring

On 5 January 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Rudi Spring, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Stephen 22:45, 5 January 2026 (UTC)

1. Gary Graffman - Schwede66 - 2 Jan (from 2025)
2. Rudi Spring - Stephen - 5 Jan
3. Ruth Wagner - Stephen - 5 Jan
4. Andrew Carter - PFHLai - 9 Jan
5. Rolf Riehm - Spencer - 9 Jan
6. Jonathan Powell (musician) - Spencer - 10 Jan
7. John Wallace - Bagumba - 16 Jan
8. Isaiah Jackson - Spencer - 18 Jan
9. Miroslava Pešíková - Schwede66 - 18 Jan
10. Francis Buchholz - Spencer 28 Jan
11. Richie Beirach - robertsky - 4 Feb
12. Tamás Vásáry - Stephen - 11 Feb
13. Helmuth Rilling - PFHLai - 13 Feb
14. Lambert Hamel - Spencer - 21 Feb
15. José van Dam - Stephen - 24 Feb
16. Roman Kofman - Stephen - 2 Mar
17. Käthe Menzel-Jordan - Spencer - 7 Mar
18. Gustav Gunsenheimer - Schwede66 - 11 Mar
19. Hermann Kulke - Stephen - 15 Mar
20. Hjálmar H. Ragnarsson - Stephen - 15 Mar
21. Bernard Rands - Amakuru - 16 Mar
22. Alexander Kluge - Spencer - 31 Mar
23. Álvaro Cassuto - Spencer - 10 Apr
24. Christian Schwarz-Schilling - Amakuru - 14 Apr
25. Osvaldas Balakauskas - Schwede66 - 20 Apr
26. Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden - Left guide - 24 Apr
27. Oleg Maisenberg - Bagumba - 24 Apr
28. Michael Tilson Thomas - Schwede66 - 28 Apr
29. Ruth Slenczynska - Schwede66 - 29 Apr
30. Jean-Bernard Pommier - Spencer - 30 Apr
31. Günter Jena - Spencer - 12 May
32. Felicity Lott - Spencer - 20 May
33. Alexander Held - PFHLai - 24 May
34. Gunter Hampel - robertsky - 27 May
35. Arnold Whittall - Schwede66 - 4 Jun
36. Jürgen Kesting - Stephen - 10 Jun
37. Ute Walther - Spencer - 17 Jun

Music for today

My story today remembers a DYK 10 years ago, which remembers a great conductor, also director of a conservatory with a long tradition. - I was part of the event the DYK mentioned. We sang Bach's cantata Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, and Mozart's Requiem at the Lutherkirche Wiesbaden (and in three other concerts in the region). When the conservatory was founded, Clara Schumann was a piano teacher. Let's keep expanding free knowledge. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:12, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

Did you know ...

• ... that director Frank Stähle revived the choir and orchestra of Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium and conducted them in Mozart's Requiem for the centenary of the Lutherkirche?

11 January · service St. Martin, Idstein Stern über Bethlehem Seht ihr unsern Stern dort stehen Es ist ein Ros entsprungen Fest soll mein Taufbund immer stehn Heilig, heilig, dreimal heilig Zu Bethlehem geboren Wir kommen daher aus dem Morgenland O du fröhliche · 2023 Mozart: Requiem

in memoriam Mozart: de morte transire ad vitam Jonathan Powell Frank Stähle Ritva Auvinen John Wallace · Brian Boulton Jerome Kohl and Alakzi, Khazar, RexxS and others who have just given up

7 August 2025 · RMF Rheingau Musik Festival Eberbach Abbey Bach: Mass in B minor Tenebrae Kammerorchester Basel Nigel Short, cond.

January again

Dear Gerda, as it is coming round to my annual self-indulgence-Fest over being Awesome, I thought I'd save you the trouble of mentioning it, and at the same time take the opportunity to reply to your New Year greeting with one of my own. Sorry it's so late, I am in a deluge of dental appointments for which I have to make a 50-mile round trip in my "characterful" old Astra. But you may imagine me as a severe old would-be Quaker who has decided not to be an observer of times and seasons, or at least who uses that as an excuse for his laziness. I have just recovered my old CDs of Borciani and Pegreffi reinventing Die Kunst der Fuge into something that sounds like late Beethoven, which has been locked away in storage since 2018, and am much enjoying it. That work, and the two Ricercars from the Musical Offering, contain a special sort of Peace if one doesn't bang them out too horribly! It's all in the light touch, dear, as Noel Coward possibly remarked. "Nur wo Recht und Weisheit halten / können Ruh' und Friede walten, / und was Länder glücklich macht." Somebody tell the leaders of the "free" and un-free world, if you can tell which is which, please... Prayers and good wishes to you for 2026 - Eebahgum (talk) 13:32, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Thank you and never too late for some wisdom! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:36, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

story · music · places
Such, wer da will, ein ander Ziel O Täler weit, o Höhen Die güldne Sonne voll Freud und Wonne Viel Glück und viel Segen Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud Segne, Vater, diese Gaben

Your nomination of Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42 has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42 has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of GoldRomean -- GoldRomean (talk) 18:07, 11 February 2026 (UTC)

1. Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42 - GoldRomean - 11 Feb
2. Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128 - Kyle Peake - 14 Mar
3. Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43 - Kyle Peake - 29 Mar
4. Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16 - LunaEatsTuna - 12 May
5. Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen, BWV 13 - User talk:Jonathanischoice - 19 June
6. Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72 - MSincccc - 30 June

ITN recognition for Tamás Vásáry

On 11 February 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Tamás Vásáry, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Stephen 22:37, 11 February 2026 (UTC)

in memoriam Seele, vergiß sie nicht Tamás Vásáry Bernhard Waldenfels Miroslava Pešíková Ritva Auvinen · Brian Boulton Jerome Kohl and others who have just given up

25 January · mass Iglesia de El Salvador, Santa Cruz de La Palma Cantemos al Señor un canto nuevo Paz, Señor, en el <cielo y la Tierra Hay que encender la lámpara Que sea mi vida la sal Hasta los confines de la Tierra

3 December 2025 · concert Philharmonie de Paris Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 Anders Hillborg: Hell Mountain Bizet: Symphony Mitsuko Uchida, piano Orchestre de Paris Klaus Mäkelä, cond.

My story today, reflected in my music (which also hints at vacation), - enjoy! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:57, 12 February 2026 (UTC)

Music on MP

		The Music Barnstar
		Four in one on Main Page. Well done! 7&6=thirteen (☎) 20:22, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

.

Thank you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:27, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

Eine schöne Leistung 7&6=thirteen (☎) 20:30, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

Danke! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:33, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

A barnstar for you.

		The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
		For all the kind messages you post on mine and other users’ talk pages. MSincccc (talk) 09:28, 3 March 2026 (UTC)

A barnstar for you?? Wow!

		The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
		From what i've seen of you on Wikipedia, it is good articles, pleasant messages, and treating deceased Wikipedians with respect. I feel like out of any person i've seen on this site whilst getting used to it as a new user, you stuck out to me as the most deserving of it. Thanks for your service on Wikipedia! FrostbornSage (talk) 22:32, 3 March 2026 (UTC)

March music

story · music · places
Möge die Straße uns zusammenführen Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud Ave Maria Segne, Vater, diese Gaben

Aribert Reimann's 90th birthday, with a hook mentioning his 80ths, the opera played by Oper Frankfurt after he died, see video, and I was there. - Ruta de los Volcanes is among the latest places, 3 February that was, up to unknown heights. - Note to self and all interested, - I'm too tired to spread more good news. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:33, 4 March 2026 (UTC)

Gerda, you could use a kind of mms for your dispatches. Just call it a newsletter. People who opt-in would receive them automatically on their page. Since you often structure your dispatches in a way that encourages participation and article improvement, this would meet the rules for this kind of thing. You could call it Die Stimme, Der Funke or maybe Der Schubs. Just brainstorming. The advantage is that you would only have to edit one page and the service would distribute it to everyone without you having to do it manually. You will first want to setup a page like User:Gerda Arendt/Die Stimme/Mailing list. Then you could just write the message once over at User:Gerda Arendt/Die Stimme/Newsletter. It would make your life easier. Viriditas (talk) 00:22, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

It's an interesting idea, thank you. I like person-to person talk, though. Will think about it. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 03:58, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

You could do both. A weekly or monthly digest summarizing everything (with updates and outcomes) and your usual daily kaffeeklatsch. Viriditas (talk) 06:09, 6 March 2026 (UTC)

I am happy to have two women on the main page for IWD: Ruth Wagner and Käthe Menzel-Jordan. On vacation. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:13, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

remember

in memoriam Verdi: Libera me, Domine Gustav Gunsenheimer Käthe Menzel-Jordan Bernhard Waldenfels · Brian Boulton Jerome Kohl and others who have just given up

8 March · service Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa, Paphos Nothing can trouble Rock of ages, cleft for me I heard the voice of Jesus say God forgave my sin in Jesus' name

28 October 2025 · opera La Scala Verdi: Rigoletto Galeano Salas (Count) Amartuvshin Enkhbat Rigoletto) Francesca Pia Vitale (Gilda) Gianluca Buratto (Sparafucil) Martina Belli (Maddalena) Mario Martone, dir. Marco Armiliato, cond.

A Mediterranean day, - Verdi's Rigoletto premiered on 11 March 1851. I'll change now to remember Gunsenheimer's Die Versuchung Jesu. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:23, 12 March 2026 (UTC)

DYK for Quatre instants

On 19 March 2026, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Quatre instants, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Kaija Saariaho's Quatre instants have been described as "a quasi-operatic monologue" in "erotic, extreme territory"? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Quatre instants. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Quatre instants), and the hook may be added to the statistics page after its run on the Main Page has completed. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to nominate it.

HurricaneZeta^C 00:03, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

Thank you, HurricaneZeta. My story - featuring a fine video with interviews, that I highly recommend (of the soprano having to step in the day after her wedding, so singing the concert in her wedding dress, and of the composer) has a bit of the context that you "trimmed" away, leaving the hook without even telling what the topic is. I believe that "songs" would have been minimum, the name of the (other) soprano whose voice inspired the composition would have been highly desirable, especially in March = women's month, and that these works by a Finnish composer were texted by a Lebanese writer in French would have added interest, which now rests entirely on eroticism. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:21, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

Hi, @Narutolovehinata5 was the one that trimmed it here. I think both versions are fine, especially since the lack of additional context would allow readers to click through to learn more, though you could ask the admins at WP:ERRORS. HurricaneZeta^C 18:08, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

You are right. I was in a rush looking, and then had no more time all day. It's not an error, which I would have been told at WP:ERRORS. It just leaves a great woman composer in an eroticism corner and no more, no music, not even mentioning that it is music. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:42, 19 March 2026 (UTC)

We just a similar discussion with Viriditas recently, and his advice stands here. You need to find a balance between what you want and what readers are looking for. The hook fact is basically the same anyway, it's not healthy nor productive to focus on specific words or phrasings, the important thing is how to present the information. Oftentimes, on DYK, less is more, and packing in too much details will drive away readers, not bring them in. Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contributions) 00:11, 20 March 2026 (UTC)

She's a musician (or vocalist), and she's German, so focusing on specific words or phrasings is very important to her. I can understand that. When I used to play and record music, I would get in the same mindset, sometimes focusing on a musical phrase for days at a time. When I experimented with electronic music, the obsession got much worse, losing myself in a particular sound, whose depth is ultimately bottomless, like a black hole. Within the space of a single note there is a symphony of sound, there is in fact, all sounds contained in one vibration. And even the silence itself is a form of music, the space between the notes. You can lose yourself in that kind of hyperfocus. The trick, as you say, is to find the balance, and that's hard if you've never known it. Viriditas (talk) 00:29, 20 March 2026 (UTC)

The real lesson here is that, oftentimes, the actual exact phrasings or wordings are less important than the main hook fact. What matters is that the hook fact is understandable, catchy, and hooky. It doesn't matter if the exact preferred words or phrasings are not used, as long as the hook gives the same point. Two hooks about the same hook fact: one clunky and long, the other straight to the point, would be received differently by readers. Ideally, we should go for the latter and not the former. Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contributions) 01:10, 20 March 2026 (UTC)

Thank you both for sharing ideas. I will not learn to speak about a topic without saying what it is, and thus missing to address those interested in that topic. To leave open that it's songs (not drama, not instrumental music ...) will miss readers who would be interested in songs, and will miss saying from the start that it's about intimacy.. Not to mention the singer whose voice inspired this (and the opera to come, for the same singer) misses a highly interesting fact about collaboration and inspiration, and all that's left is a tickle with eroticism, meant to be the spice in a dish, not the main (or only) ingredient. Ideally, for a complex topic we should inform about its broad cultural context. My view was supported by Chris who approved the hook, and HurricaneZeta who promoted, and Viriditas. Have you (all) seen what the composer had to say in the video? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:50, 20 March 2026 (UTC)

21 March

story · music · places

Here's a butterfly, on the first day of spring where I live, and Bach's birthday. My story today is about one of his unique composition which I sang in concert the day before my grandfather died. At the time, it was believed that it was written for a funeral. Scholars are less sure of that now, and being not too sure of whatever is perhaps a good approach. The music helped me, anyway. I quoted from it (and you can read that excerpt and listen to it) in response to arbitration restrictions, caused by ideas such as trying to add accessibility to Bach's article on his birthday in 2013: "Trotz - Trotz - Trotz ... ich steh hier und singe" (defiance ... I stand here and sing). -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:44, 21 March 2026 (UTC)

In the context: User talk:S Marshall#Infobox criteria. My story on Annunciation day has been the same for four years: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:02, 25 March 2026 (UTC)

14 March · service St. Martin, Idstein Mein ganzes Herz erhebet dich Mein Hirt ist Gott der Herr Mir nach, spricht Christus, unser Held Christe, du Lamm Gottes Herr, ob den Himmeln thronst du hoch · 29 September 2013 Bach: Mass in B minor

7 August 2025 · RMF Eberbach Abbey Bach: Mass in B minor Tenebrae Kammerorchester Basel Nigel Short, cond.

11 June · sing concert St. Lamberti, Hildesheim Bach: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 Erhard Egidi, cond.

DYK for Es hat sich halt eröffnet

On 1 April 2026, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Es hat sich halt eröffnet, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Karl Marx made an arrangement of a Christmas carol? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Es hat sich halt eröffnet. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Es hat sich halt eröffnet).

		Hook update
		Your hook reached 9,505 views (792.1 per hour), making it one of the most viewed hooks of April 2026 – nice work!

GalliumBot (talk • contribs) (he/it) 03:34, 2 April 2026 (UTC)

HurricaneZeta^C 12:03, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

This is supposed to be funny. I'm curious what our readers will think. Read the article, it's a song with humour ;) Merry Christmas! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:51, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I forgot to congratulate you on this. Viriditas (talk) 03:35, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

On what? - Missing my annual little Christmas present to the world when I was sure it was particularly cute and funny? Nothing that makes me proud. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:43, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

You are still upset about your original hook from December 2025? Time to let go of that. Viriditas (talk) 18:12, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

Elements of Style

I'm reading Charles Rosen's The Classical Style. It's a good one, as I don't need to tell you.

Haydn does not have a Good Article (yet). His major works should be listed in the lead: Op. 33, the "Oxford" Symphony, The Creation. They are not (yet).

Look forward to hearing some April music... Charlie Faust (talk) 02:50, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

Yes to all. Here you go with April music on Easter Sunday:

story · music · places
For the beauty of the earth Hebe deine Augen auf Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen Dona nobis pacem (round) Ave Maria The Times They Are a-Changin' Möge die Straße uns zusammenführen Sunrise, Sunset Greensleeves Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud Segne, Vater, diese Gaben

Easter Oratorio, introduced (on Easter Sunday last year, in defiance that the work made it neither to DYK nor to OTD) as about "one of three oratorios by J. S. Bach, the famous one being the Christmas Oratorio of 1734 followed by the 1738 Ascension Oratorio. The Easter Oratorio was - in a way - already composed in 1725, in a clever collaboration of Bach with Picander who would write the poetry of the St Matthew Passion. In their first project together (as far as we know), he wrote the text for a pastoral cantata that was probably performed as musical theatre for the birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels. For Easter 1725, all music except the recitatives was heard in the Nikolaikirche in the Easter service, now among four Biblical characters instead of shepherds, with different text probably also by Picander. - When Bach thought of oratorios in the 1730s, he could just make a new score with a new title. He must have loved the piece, making more changes in the 1740s and performing it again the year before he died. Find out why." - See also today's story and music (further up, if I don't get to your talk. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:22, 5 April 2026 (UTC)

4 April · Easter Vigil Sende aus deinen Geist Singen will ich dem Herrn Lahme: Meine Seele dürstet nach dir Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr Gesius: Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn Gelobt sei Gott im höchsten Thron Wahrer Gott, wir glauben dir Christ ist erstanden Das Grab ist leer, der Held erwacht Torelli: Fanfare Thomas Hasselbeck, trumpet 2000 Bach: Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66

in memoriam Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen Ingrid Schmithüsen · Brian Boulton Jerome Kohl and others who have just given up

29 March · concert Casals Forum Bach: Easter cantatas Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66 Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134 Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6 Ensemble Amarcord Lautten Compagney Wolfgang Katschner, cond.

A concert (or several?) on ABC Classic you might like

Hi Gerda, You might've seen this (it's been performed around the world), but I just listened online to an ABC classic program of an exquisite concert by Pygmalion themed around the Thirty Years' War featuring works by JS Bach, his ancestors and their contemporaries, including Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 (which I know means so much to you) and Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150. ABC Classic have also put up Pygmalion's Monteverdi's Vespers and will soon put up their performance of not Monteverdi's L'Orfeo but Rossi's Orfeo, which I'm not familiar with but I see that Pygmalion have recorded it. Graham87 (talk) 13:47, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank you, sounds great! - Could you please give Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43 an informal review, in case you don't want to do it for FAC? - Three great pianists in my music today, - feel free to polish those also. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:01, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

No worries. Done re BWV 43. Good luck. I also made a tweak to the Ruth Slenczynska page; I remember reading about her childhood ... not a happy story. Graham87 (talk) 14:57, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Jean-Bernard Pommier

On 30 April 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Jean-Bernard Pommier, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Spencer^T•C 16:06, 30 April 2026 (UTC)

May 2026

To enforce an arbitration decision, and for canvasing arbs to close an RfC about infoboxes, you have been blocked from editing Wikipedia for a period of 1 week. You are welcome to edit once the block expires; however, please note that the repetition of similar behavior may result in a longer block or other sanctions.

If you believe this block is unjustified, please read the guide to appealing blocks (specifically this section) before appealing. Place the following on your talk page: {{unblock|reason=Please copy my appeal to the [[WP:AE|arbitration enforcement noticeboard]] or [[WP:AN|administrators' noticeboard]]. Your reason here OR place the reason below this template. ~~~~}}. If you intend to appeal on the arbitration enforcement noticeboard, I suggest you use the arbitration enforcement appeals template on your talk page so it can be copied over easily. You may also appeal directly to me (by email), before or instead of appealing on your talk page. 

Guerillero ^{Parlez Moi} 09:45, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

---

Reminder to administrators: In May 2014, ArbCom adopted the following procedure instructing administrators regarding Arbitration Enforcement blocks: "No administrator may modify a sanction placed by another administrator without: (1) the explicit prior affirmative consent of the enforcing administrator; or (2) prior affirmative agreement for the modification at (a) AE or (b) AN or (c) ARCA (see "Important notes"). Administrators modifying sanctions out of process may at the discretion of the committee be desysopped."

None of these arbs are appropriate to notify about the discussion. This is made worse by being votes 2-6, in order supporting the filer's site ban in the current arbcom case. --Guerillero ^{Parlez Moi} 09:51, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

OMG. Grimes2 09:57, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I set out on January to achieve peace in infobox matters: they are no contentious topic, - just look. I urge you, Guerillero, to look into the RfC and see that the present active editors of project classical music don't agree with the ancient recommendation to leave composers without what is good for painters and philosophers. - I'll place my stories here for a free week. Help welcome for bringing Mimi Coertse and Peter Gülke to the main page, anybody, - they need more sourcing. - Remember: Ich steh hier und singe. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:07, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

more recent deaths needing references: Georg Baselitz and Günter Pichler --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:39, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

@Grimes2: perhaps add to Die Fliege --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:46, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Thank you, Grimes2, for nominating Mimi Coertse. More possible sources and (both de and en), (obit de). - I would have nominated Maria Radner for Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/May 7. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:30, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

I think we can safely conclude that User:Guerillero was in fact not the right person... Enjoy your mini-wikibreak, look forward to seeing you and the content(ment) you bring, when you're back, Maculosae tegmine lyncis (talk) 10:48, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

story · music · places
Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud Je vous salue Marie Ave Maria La Partida Freuet euch der schönen Erde Mein Gott, wie schön ist deine Welt Bleibe bei uns, du Wandrer durch die Zeit Dona nobis pacem Von guten Mächten Sozusagen grundlos vergnügt Le Laudi Möge die Straße uns zusammenführen Ave Maria Viel Glück und viel Segen O du fröhliche Von Gott kömmt mir ein Freudenschein Segne, Vater, diese Gaben The Times They Are a-Changin' O Täler weit, o Höhen A Hard Day's Night Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten Hark! The Herald Angels Sing For the beauty of the earth Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud

Thank you, and thanks to Grimes2 for working on Coertse. You can't even click thank you when blocked ;) - "Go out, my heart, and seek delight". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:07, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

You might perhaps remind Guerillero that I was never topic banned, only restricted to two comments, and that all restrictions were rescinded in 2015. Also: anybody may close said RfC, looking at arguments, not only count votes. Like Mozart. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:20, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

While blocked for canvassing about an infobox discussion it's not a great idea to ask people to close that discussion like an infobox RFC closed as include. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 12:32, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I wasn't canvassing arbs to close, I wanted them to notice. I didn't ask anybody to close, - I just informed that anybody might close. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:40, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

(edit conflict:) @Dronebogus: In 2013, there was a majority of arbs for banning Andy, and I worked until one of the arbs changed his mind, not the one to whom I pleaded but Timotheus Canens. It got me into trouble, but was worth it. I tried again now, it got me into trouble, such is life. May be one or the other arb will look a bit deeper and see. As I told Floq: your voice is the (sometimes shrieking, sometimes impatient) voice of the community. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:40, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

Yeah well now there’s a full 7. It was a pleasure working with you and you don’t deserve this block at all. You always were the nicest person here. Dronebogus (talk) 13:07, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

thank you - I'm known for defiance, see the DYK on my user page, including This too shall pass ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:13, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I'm not happy that it's all come to this, but your notifications (especially to the arbs, particularly *those* arbs, at a time like this) were absolutely not on. Even adding a link to the RFC and nothing else would have been a bad idea. It pains me greatly to say this given our very positive interactions over the years, including a great day meeting in person, but that's how I feel about the situation. Graham87 (talk) 15:15, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I don't think we talk about the same thing, sorry. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:19, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I have noticed that old time approaches do not always work best with a new generation of administrators. This is disappointing to see overall......but rest assured content editors understand that you're doing what's best for our readers. Moxy🍁 19:53, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

Do you mean to say you consider Guerillero, an admin since 2011, to belong to "a new generation of administrators", Moxy? Bishonen | tålk 20:21, 1 May 2026 (UTC).

I was happy all day out, a great concert coming up tomorrow for a subject's 90th birthday (which DYK seems to miss, so be it), BWV 51 and more. Arbitration was kafkaesque each time I looked. The best advice regarding arbitration came from Short Brigade Harvester Boris. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:49, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

That is a good essay. I’d sum it up as: ArbCom thinks it’s the Supreme Court of Wikipedia; it’s really just a random assortment of admins who have been given the authority to solve intractable problems with a sledgehammer. Dronebogus (talk) 18:05, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

A problem only becomes intractable when a majority of people refuse to deal with it. It seems to me that dispute resolution involves equal measure of negotiation and compromise. When one or the other side refuses to do that, you get a long running dispute. The infobox conflict is just another example. It should have never become a problem in the first place. It did, because one side or the other refused to negotiate and compromise. Viriditas (talk) 21:11, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Hey, Gerda!

(ec) I appreciate everything you do for WP and I know I'm not alone. One thing that we longtimers have in common, I believe, is the ability to just let things go and to move along to work on other things. Just let it go, take a week to rest and reset, read a book, play with your dog, do whatever you do for fun. Blocks are stupid and getting worked up fighting over blocks is stupid. Rest and reset! All the best, —tim //// Carrite (talk) 12:45, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

thank you, I upload pics to places and take new ones --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:50, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

see also: beginning of April

	Places
	biking from Trebur to Kornsand (15 Apr)
	back (15 Apr)

--Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:11, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I'm so sorry to hear about this, Gerda. You have worked so many hours, for so many years, and so hard, for WP. You don't deserve a block, and your editing colleagues don't deserve to lose your assistance, not even for just a week. I look forward to seeing you back at work. Storye book (talk) 15:38, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

These pictures look very much like where I live, in Oregon on the West coast of the US. Very nice images! —tim //// Carrite (talk) 17:14, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

BWV 63

Hi Gerda,

Very sorry to see your block.

(Rapidly changing the subject...) We've been notified that a choral society for whom we regularly play is doing BWV 63 in December. I am excited and intrigued by this: great trumpet parts and in particular, four of them! This is most unusual and I wonder what was going on here? I mean, they are also in C which is less usual but not as unusual as the trumpet count! I've started (very feebly) looking into it but I wondered whether anything obvious (or indeed non-obvious) occurred to you about this?

We've also got a B Minor Mass coming up soon ... what can I say, trumpets in D, just three of them ... quite a blow though! Cheers DBaK (talk) 17:39, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

BWV 63 is a rather early cantata for a different place with a different organ, I understand. I heard it last year. The B minor I also heard last year, by Tenebrae, and last performed in 2013, pictured (including trumpets) in the article. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:32, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

Lovely, thanks! DBaK (talk) 08:55, 5 May 2026 (UTC)

And you're back! Excellent!! Cheers DBaK (talk) 20:35, 8 May 2026 (UTC)

Re: Ruth Slenczynska

Hello, I see you are blocked for a week. I'm sorry that happened, but maybe you'll get more things done in the next seven days that you otherwise would not; a silver lining? Anyway, I wanted to follow up on our discussion about Ruth Slenczynska. I've only had a chance to listen to one album so far, My Life in Music (Decca). Of course, she seems to prefer Chopin, but I enjoyed her take on Grieg and Debussy. I'm surprised she never played any jazz, as some of her style comes close to it. My guess is that she must have listened to it in private but didn't mention it. One thing that stands out to me is how relaxing the music is and how conducive it is to peace of mind. The next day, I felt refreshed and vitalized. Viriditas (talk) 22:07, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

I cannot believe she was 97 when she recorded this! Although, that probably explains why it sounded jazzy to me. Viriditas (talk) 22:33, 1 May 2026 (UTC)

in memoriam Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen Ruth Slenczynska Jean-Bernard Pommier · Brian Boulton Jerome Kohl and others who have just given up

26 April · service St. Martin, Idstein Das ist der Tag, den Gott gemacht Mein Hirt ist Gott der Herr Christus ist erstanden! O tönt Ist das der Leib, Herr Jesu Christ Das Grab ist leer, der Held erwacht · 6 May 2024 Bach: Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6

3 December 2025 · concert Philharmonie de Paris Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 Anders Hillborg: Hell Mountain Bizet: Symphony Mitsuko Uchida, piano Orchestre de Paris Klaus Mäkelä, cond.

Thank you for listening, - that's what I like best, especially when it's conducive to peace of mind. She thought that the Chopin F major Prelude should be the music when she went to heaven. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:36, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

My friend Mike used to ask strangers "What would you do if today was the last day of your life?" and after whatever reply "And why don't you do it?" --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:50, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

	Places
	dinner outside in Marienthal Rhine at Hattenheim (15 Apr)

Here's one for you

Earlier this year, they played a track on a Face the Music (British game show) rerun that I knew from The Three Stooges (video game), but I forgot to take down the name of it. It's at 2:50 in this video, any help?--Launchballer 01:40, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Sorry to butt in to your connecting with GA, but Piano Sonata No. 16 (Mozart), Maculosae tegmine lyncis (talk) 05:29, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for help! I just woke up. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:33, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Thank you both.--Launchballer 17:21, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Precious

Just reminding you that your contributions and commitment to this project are always welcome, any month, and any year. Cheers, atque supra! Fakescientist8000 21:39, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Thank you - that's welcome! - Thanks also to Barkeep49 for wording something better than I could. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:49, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Use of talk page while blocked

Gerda, please, the only thing you're supposed to use your talk page for while you're blocked is for questions about your block. We can overlook little things, like the short conversations you've been having in the four posts above this one. But this one is openly a request for proxy editing. That's rather harder to overlook, especially when the block itself is for canvassing. Please, please take tim's advice and go do something else for a while. Maybe you can upload some of those lovely photos to Commons. Just, whatever you do, don't do it here.

To everyone else: I can't know Gerda's mind, but I think you've gotten your point across, and so I hope she's feeling appreciated and supported right now. She'll be able to use her talk page however she pleases less than a week from now, so that would be a better time to come by to chat about content. Please don't lead her into a minefield. -- asilvering (talk) 22:19, 2 May 2026 (UTC)

Asilvering, thanks for your concern. Don't fear: I'm not going to respond to any of the messages of advice. I'm also not going to talk about the block. In a former discussion the sentence was coined: Every editor is a human being. - When I wrote about the opera singer I was afraid she wouldn't make it to the main page, - then I saw that Grimes2 had already nominated. I should have deleted the post altogether, but it was late at night, - sorry about that. I don't care if I'm appreciated and supported, - I just don't want any user being banned, and was shocked about even the options, and more about supports. Sarcasm was not a suitable response, I see that now and am sorry about that also. Barkeep49 has expressed the concern better than I could have. - What do you mean by "Maybe you can upload some of those lovely photos to Commons." I uploaded them on commons, of course. Today's story would have been about St. Catherine's Church, Frankfurt, an article I wrote with Vami IV, a 2014 DYK, I miss him so much. I stand and sing, softly to myself now. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:02, 3 May 2026 (UTC)

I am absolutely against this interpretation of blocks of good faith editors, especially competent and established good faith editors. Anyone who edits Wikipedia knows that they take responsibility for their own edits. Even if a blocked good-faith editor did request an edit, the responsibility is ultimately on the editor that makes the edit. In the event that this is disruptive, then by all means circumscribe the blocked editor's use of their talk page. All the best: Rich Farmbrough 10:09, 3 May 2026 (UTC).

Hi Gerda, I see that you've made additional edits to the "call for collaboration" section of your talk page. This is exactly the kind of thing @Asilvering told you not to do. Please understand, I'm not saying this to be mean. I love you and (most of) what you do, and the last thing I want is to see you get hurt.

Your block is not a a plain old block by a random admin like me. It's an Arbitration Enforcement block, imposed by a sitting arb. And the warning by Asilvering was from another sitting arb. These are not the kind of people whose advice and instructions you want to ignore. They have the ability to impose additional sanctions on you which somebody like me would be powerless to reverse. I don't know if their next move would be to revoke your talk page access or if they would increase the length of your block, possibly to being indefinite Please, please, please, don't give them any excuse to go there. RoySmith (talk) 11:57, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for your compassion, Roy. Since Asilvering's post, I made one edit to the section. I added question marks to the two last items, meaning that it's not decided yet if done not not (looking more like no), and factually informed that Mimi Coertse needs a lead (in order to be considered for ITN), - she is an opera singer and a woman I admired, so I'm more interested in promoting knowledge about her than in how I am treated. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:23, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

Gerda, I know you have good intentions, but this is exactly the kind of activity that other editors are warning you against doing. This can be seen as proxy editing: asking other editors to edit on your behalf. Even just giving suggestions of what to do can be seen as violating that guideline. So saying that Coertse's article needs a lead section, even if true, can be seen as going against your block. Gerda, please, avoid doing anything similar to this again. You risk seeing your block being extended or worse, especially when not one but two ArbCom members have warned you. You can always wait for your block to expire, then add the lead yourself when that happens. Coertse's article can wait. Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contributions) 13:08, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for you good intentions but, sorry, you don't understand, which may be my fault explaining. The article would need a lead today because it's the last possible day to be admitted for ITN (7 days, as for DYK, in case you don't know). With the orange tag "lead too short" it will not be accepted, missing about 8k views over the one to four days of being mentioned on the main page. I didn't word a lead, I didn't ping anybody, expanding one sentence to a summary should be in the general interest of Wikipedia, and better sooner than later. You also didn't understand that my interest in exposing this woman is higher than my interest in my personal treatment. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:33, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

(Actually, views on 4 days were more like 17k.) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:52, 8 May 2026 (UTC)

Cortese not being featured on Recent deaths would be unfortunate, but it is not the end of the world. You can always bring her article to GA status and nominate her for DYK in the future. The door to ITN is closed but not her article being featured on the Main Page. In any case, the desire to see her article be featured on ITN and doing anything to make it happen is just not something worth risking the ire of ArbCom over. The possible consequences are too harsh to justify doing this. It is difficult, I know, but in this case, it would be in everyone's best interest for you to choose your battles and let this go. Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contributions) 13:44, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

I never choose battle. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:52, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

Gerda, I noticed that you made this request regarding Maria Bengtsson (soprano). Regardless of the merits of your block, or whether or not it was fair, this is the kind of behavior that others would likely perceive as proxy editing. Your block expires in two days, the safest option here is to wait the block out, then do the edit yourself. Two days isn't a long amount of time for waiting. The more you continue doing this, the more you risk getting the ire of another admin and thus risk getting reblocked or having your block be extended. This does not mean I agree with your block, I just don't want to see you get into further trouble regardless of the merits of your case. Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contributions) 00:02, 6 May 2026 (UTC)

I never choose battle. I am not in trouble. (You could have chosen to add a reference in an article I stand behind, improving Wikipedia, no?) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 04:49, 6 May 2026 (UTC)

A year ago I would have counseled moderation, but with the benefit of clarity that comes with distance: Can I suggest, Gerda, that this is an example of why I'm slowly coming around (probably at 33% now) to the Wikipediocracy-adjacent philosophy that you do your soul a favor by leaving this place? Aside from the "blocks are the only way to handle things" personality defect evident in the original block, and the (surprising, I generally respect asilvering) silly belief that a blocked user's talk page is only for appealing a block, the belief that your latest edit to the "call for collaboration" section is dangerous is evidence that this place is getting more dysfunctional every day. Perhaps I'm not being fair to asilvering and RoySmith and NLH5; on re-reading, maybe they aren't saying what you're doing is bad, they're saying be careful because someone in a position of power might think it is bad. One solution to that is to bow down before the person in power. The other is to tell the person in power that they are full of shit. The world is pretty full right now of people taking the former approach.

Take no advice that does not match your sense of right and wrong. There are worse things than being blocked by idiots. Floquenbeam (talk) 13:52, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

I took the advice about my sense of right or wrong. I don't bow to power, - see the link above I'd repeat a second time in this thread. I mentioned Mike's questions above, and my answer was the sentence in "call for collaboration" about don't ban if there are better solutions possible. I could have requested proxy editing by email but didn't, or sent Guerillero an email but didn't: I like things open. I go by my edit notice and another bit of advice. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:49, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

Gerda: having been on the receiving end of administrative blocks, I sympathize with yours. Keep calm and carry on.

I always enjoy seeing your messages of hope and beauty. Thanks! Cheers -- Pete Tillman (talk) 18:11, 6 May 2026 (UTC)

5 May · Maifestspiele Und mit morgen könnt ihr mich Songs by Kurt Weill staged "Surabaya Johnny" "Und was bekam des Soldaten Weib?" "Ballade vom ertrunkenen Mädchen" "Die Ballade von der Höllen-Lili" "Ba'a M'nucha" (There comes peace) Katharine Mehring, vocals Michael Fernandez, dance Barrie Kosky, dir. Komische Oper Berlin production

3 May · service Komm her, freu dich mit uns Ich glaube an den Vater Taizé: Magnificat Friede soll mit euch sein Choir of sisters from Uganda

2 May · Festkonzert St. Martin, Idstein 90th birthday of Franz Josef Hamm Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 Toccata und Fuge in D, BWV 565 Pergolesi: Salve Regina in c Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 Handel: Eternal Source of Light Divine Theresa Klose, soprano Rupprecht Drees, trumpet Capella della bella chiesa Franz Fink, cond.

Mimi Coertse

I'm very sorry to hear about your block. I was reading through your talk page and noticed that you were hoping for the article Mimi Coertse to have a better lede written. So, to let it be put on ITN I have written a lede. Hopefully it can be posted, and I look forward to when you are allowed back on the project. Your contributions and cheer are always appreciated. Chorchapu (talk | edits) 15:05, 4 May 2026 (UTC)

Your GA nominations

Hi Gerda, you might not have realised, but an editor removed your active GA nominations because you were blocked. After a brief review, they are back again. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 13:11, 7 May 2026 (UTC)

thank you again, Ritchie --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:39, 7 May 2026 (UTC)

DYK for Die Stechardin

On 8 May 2026, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Die Stechardin, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that György Kurtág dedicated his second opera, Die Stechardin, to his wife Márta and attended its premiere a day after turning 100? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Die Stechardin. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Die Stechardin), and the hook may be added to the statistics page after its run on the Main Page has completed. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to nominate it.

~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 00:02, 8 May 2026 (UTC)

Template:Did you know nominations/Franz Josef Hamm

Hey, I saw your ping but I'm not sure what you need from me, could you clarify? el.ziade (talkallam) 14:09, 8 May 2026 (UTC)

Compare how the hook that you approved looks in prep. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:16, 8 May 2026 (UTC)

Update: the nomination is back for another promoter. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:46, 8 May 2026 (UTC)

Welcome back

It's good to see you back here and, yes, your messages are really appreciated (even if I didn't get the Easter ones this time). I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Best, MSincccc (talk) 05:42, 9 May 2026 (UTC)

Thank you! My signature tune of story-music-places, with the flowers of the month, goes out to seek contact, often as a token of thanks, regularly to the writer(s) of the TFA. The surest way of receiving it is to join WP:QAI (and edit). Warning: it's the "cabal of the outcasts". Some of its founders have been blocked and banned. One of it's members, Andy, was threatened to be banned over infobox disputes. Today's funny story - a 2013 DYK - is about Peter Planyawsky. An arbitrator made his vote - the majority to ban - citing an edit on this article, in which my friend just moved an infobox from the bottom to the normal position, and none of his colleagues interfered. That ruined my respect for arbitration, - it helped to have worked on Kafka. The arbitrator became a friend over the years, btw. - I canvass to look at peace talks and participate, to go for compromise, and to get the banned unbanned, both. Help wanted and welcome. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:58, 9 May 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16 has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16 has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of LunaEatsTuna -- LunaEatsTuna (talk) 13:23, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Günter Jena

On 12 May 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Günter Jena, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Spencer^T•C 16:22, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

	The Surreal Barnstar
	Wow! What a find... Thank you. 2x2x2x2x2 (talk) 20:51, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

thank you - what did you find? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:51, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

DYK for Walter Neuhäusser

On 16 May 2026, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Walter Neuhäusser, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that architect Walter Neuhäusser designed several shell structures, including a cemetery hall in Schupbach (pictured)? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Walter Neuhäusser. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Walter Neuhäusser), and the hook may be added to the statistics page after its run on the Main Page has completed. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to nominate it.

Dclemens1971 (talk) 01:40, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Felicity Lott

On 20 May 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Felicity Lott, which you updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Spencer^T•C 03:43, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Alexander Held

On 24 May 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Alexander Held, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. PFHLai (talk) 14:30, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

Women in Red - June 2026

Women in Red | June 2026, Vol 12, Issue 6, Nos 358, 359, 373, 374, 375 New: LGBTQ+ women | Alphabet run: Countries starting with I, J, K and L

--Rosiestep (talk) 22:50, 25 May 2026 (UTC) via MassMessaging

Classicism

By a somewhat random path I came upon a comment on the golden bough Nachleben. I thought of you. Then your sig appeared. I hope you continue to be well and productive. I am inspired to take up German again, after fifty years. — Neonorange (talk to Phil) (he, they) 19:03, 26 May 2026 (UTC)

that's nice to hear, just go for it - Bazon Brock, 90 today, speaks of never thinking of retirement --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:31, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Gunter Hampel

On 27 May 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Gunter Hampel, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. – robertsky (talk) 15:37, 27 May 2026 (UTC)

Felicity Lott

Hello,

I wanted to correct the date of death of Felicity Lott. Her agent Sue Spence has put some details on this offical website :https://askonasholt.com/news/dame-felicity-lott-1947-2026

And you can read it as well on :

Tim Page, «  [archive] » , sur nytimes.com, 18 mai 2026. Available free via cette reprise [archive] du Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Is it ok for you ?

All best, SandBernhard (talk) 14:42, 28 May 2026 (UTC)

ok, I don't care much, just want a decent source, and can't see NYT. Next time please go to the article talk page. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:34, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

Gerda, if you ever need a NYT article, I can provide you with a gift link. Just ask. Otherwise, I can email you PDFs. Viriditas (talk) 19:03, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

June music

story · music · places

If you look at our church, you see three recent pics, one on top of a concert that Franz Josef Hamm arranged for his 90th birthday (and invited everybody for free), a new one of our conductor, and at the bottom us taking standing ovations. The music, Forrest's Jubilate Deo, is quite breathtaking, and the organist (my choral conductor for decades) said we were better than what he had heard on the internet. No youtube upcoming, though, copyright ... - Today a 90th birthday that I missed to announce for OTD over the concerts, a 2012 quirky hook. I was there when he lectured on "Transcendental Constructivism". -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:38, 2 June 2026 (UTC)

Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39, is my story today: listen! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:36, 7 June 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Arnold Whittall

On 4 June 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Arnold Whittall, which you nominated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Schwede66 08:19, 4 June 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Jürgen Kesting

On 10 June 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Jürgen Kesting, which you nominated and updated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Stephen 00:30, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

Promotion of Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43

Congratulations, Gerda Arendt! The article you nominated, Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43, has been promoted to featured status, recognizing it as one of the best articles on Wikipedia. The nomination discussion has been archived.

This is a rare accomplishment and you should be proud. If you would like, you may nominate it to appear on the Main Page as Today's featured article. Keep up the great work! Cheers, FrB.TG (talk) via FACBot (talk) 23:06, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

I'm proud and thank all who helped! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:05, 11 June 2026 (UTC)

Congratulations!--Thoughtfortheday (talk) 19:55, 11 June 2026 (UTC)

Mind looking

Hi Gerda, I hope you’re fine today! I have Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Ewuare/archive1 and I am seeking reviewers; I’d appreciate if you’re able to take a look. I’m grateful :) Vanderwaalforces (talk) 05:42, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

I'll look when I find time. I have one review waiting, and a FA plan of my own which will need a lot of tedious formatting work ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:45, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

Sure, please take your time :) I totally agree; sometimes formatting can be tedious especially when overhauling a poorly structured article like mine. Good luck on that! Vanderwaalforces (talk) 05:56, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

If I don't pester you, who else would :) hehe. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 17:30, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

Did you see: your's is next in line ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:14, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

Ah, thank you Gerda! I’m just seeing that now. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 20:42, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

ITN recognition for Ute Walther

On 17 June 2026, In the news was updated with an item that involved the article Ute Walther, which you created and nominated. If you know of another recently created or updated article suitable for inclusion in ITN, please suggest it on the candidates page. Spencer^T•C 06:17, 17 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen, BWV 13 has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen, BWV 13 has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of Jonathanischoice -- Jonathanischoice (talk) 05:24, 19 June 2026 (UTC)

Music, mostly

Hello! Thanks for your various encouragements. I do find the infobox warriors baffling.

Anyway, I just ended up making some edits to your choir, and in particular [...operate time machine...] you have already seen them, but also the reference to singing in services: Christmas and Easter are church festivals, correctly capitalised, but Konfirmation should presumably be "confirmation services" or similar. (Sorry, I don't really do religious terminology). Then the Creation: I have not actually been resident in an English-speaking country for more than 35 years, so my qualifications are lapsing; I have two scores, and I think I probably sang it in the Albert Hall in London in the 1970s. They had a series "Messiah from scratch" and so on, where if you thought you could (sight-)sing it, you just bought a singerticket, went along for the 30-minute warmup and brief tutorial, then off you went. (I think the orchestra was recruited the same way.) Anyway, I have never heard it referred to by the German, and as the article shows, the WP:commonname is The Creation. I don't want to start an argument, but the present version is an Easter egg, since it links to Die Schöpfung, which redirects to the article. So until the non-German-speaking reader gets there they do not know what it is. I could simply link to the actual article title, for example.

The business of foreign languages names for musical works is interesting - for example, as far as I know, Die Fledermaus is always known as Fledermaus in English, presumably because translating it into "Bat" tells you nothing about the opera. Like you, I sing in a local choir: this started when through my children's piano teacher I was asked if I wanted to sing Beethoven's ninth, and said yes. In Japan, singing in German is quite common, and I have now sung the 9th I think more than twenty times, always from memory. The first time everything was a bit new, and I vaguely thought I heard the word anpu, meaning without a score, but it's a very short word, and I just dismissed the idea of an amateur choir singing a choral symphony without scores as absurd. Then I found out 10 days before the performance. I now sing with a small group, recently grown to about 30, called "Chor Ecco", well, a German word, and an Italian word (from Monteverdi "Ecco, mormorar l'onde"), but that's how !English works in Japan. This year we are singing the Bach Magnificat, with German pronounced Latin - we only get one real concert a year, whereas your 2-3 seems more like the situation in England. Sorry, I shouldn't ramble.

Oddments:

User:Gerda Arendt/Images 2025 audio link to youtube is broken (gone)

Am I hallucinating, or do I remember the sign on the Autobahn to "Jdstein", with a J, from the dozen(?) times I hitched between Aachen and Basel, 1968-1981?

Imaginatorium (talk) 16:34, 20 June 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for many interesting topics, - I'll reply when I have time which may be tomorrow. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:20, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

Imaginatorium, I try now, in your order:

• I have never understood the resistance against a harmless additional feature of accessibility, for 14 years now. In the long run, I see that the wishes of the community in the matter will be fulfilled. Thank you for your support to make that happen a bit sooner!
• Die Schöpfung is the original, and using the redirect tells the reader that they arrived at the correct article. During my time on Wikipedia, more original titles have become the article titles. You could add "(The Creation)" but I don't think it's needed in an article about a choir. There are only two great oratorios by Haydn, and this one more likely to be sung by a church choir. We will have readers for whom Creation is also a term they don't know ;)
• Please help me to where you found Konfirmation (a Protestant term, - the Catholics say Firmung).
• Great to hear about your singing. "My" choirs are in my infobox on my user page, - only one left at present. We sing one concert per year, but additionally evensongs of musical weight. Idsteiner Kantorei sings 2-3 concerts per year.
• Images: the top video changes daily with the story. You probably meant 20 Jun, Fritz Koenig, and sorry, I didn't check the video this year, knowing that it worked in 2024. I replaced it it by this one for now.
• "Jdstein" - with four consonants in a row - could not be pronounced in German, - perhaps it was a style of I that you took for J. Concert tonight!! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:39, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

A query

I feel that the time has come for me to nominate Fashion of Catherine, Princess of Wales at FAC. Do you think the suggested gallery should be addressed before nomination, or should I proceed and nominate? I'd welcome your thoughts. Thanks for all your feedback so far. Best, MSincccc (talk) 08:30, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

go ahead, nominate, that is a topic you can discuss with reviewers --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:49, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

Thanks for your advice. MSincccc (talk) 10:37, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

Thank you!!!

It was such a delight to find the Precious on my Talk page this morning. My contribution pace has slowed down of late, but I am still active, and lovely people like you keep me motivated. Thank you! --Neopeius (talk) 15:49, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

Comment on story today

Nielsen's Wind Quintet is one of my favorite pieces at all. Grimes2 16:12, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

Cake

Here's a piece of cake. Grimes2 18:36, 23 June 2026 (UTC)

what I need coming from a sunset walk (forgot to sign last night) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:59, 24 June 2026 (UTC)

July 2026

Women in Red | July 2026, Vol 12, Issue 7, Nos 358, 359, 376, 377 Events: New: Crime & law | Alphabet run: Countries starting with M Continuing (year-long initiatives): #1day1woman | Sports Announcements, tips, participation... Announcements from other communities: Women in Red celebrates its 11 Year Anniversary on July 18! Eiffel women Developing Countries WikiContest Tip of the month: Working on a group of linked articles? Have you thought about creating a navigation box for the footer of those pages? Other ways to participate: Become a member. You can always opt-out of notifications. Join the conversations on our talkpage. Help us plan future events and add any general ideas on developing the project. Follow us on social media: Instagram & Pinterest

--MSGJ (talk 22:13, 28 June 2026 (UTC) via MassMessaging

A barnstar for you!

	The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
	You have a solid history of great contributions to Wikipedia. Appreciate you. — Longewal (talk) 01:44, 30 June 2026 (UTC)

thank you, but sometimes I'm tired ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:08, 30 June 2026 (UTC)

Your nomination of Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72 has passed

Your good article nomination of the article Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72 has passed; congratulations! See the review page for more information. If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Please also consider reviewing somebody else's nomination to help keep the backlog down. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of MSincccc -- MSincccc (talk) 05:01, 30 June 2026 (UTC)