Allgemeiner Cäcilien-Verband für Deutschland

The General Cecilia Association of Germany ( abbreviated as ACV) was founded in 1868 in Bamberg, is a choral organization of the Catholic Church. The headquarters of the ACV for Germany is located in Regensburg. The 1870 by Pope Pius IX. approved association represents over 417,000 singers in over 18,000 choirs. Saint of the choirs is the saint and martyr of the 3rd century AD Cecilia of Rome, which is also named after the association.

The Association

The Association is a private association of church and active in the German Bishops' Conference. In 1870 the Association of the Approbiation by Pope Pius IX. In the Gründungsbreve Multum ad movendos animos from December 16, 1870 not only the name of the association is established - Associatio sub titulo Sanctae Caeciliae per universis Germanicae linguis Terris, General Cecilia Association for the countries of the German language - but also its international composition and his legal position.

After the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) established a development that ultimately led to the General Cecilia Association for the countries of the German language in three independent national associations ( Germany, Austria, Switzerland ) was divided, however, in the continue to work together, " Standing Conference of the General Cecilia associations of the countries German language (SK- ACV) ".

The ACV promotes music church by church music conferences and publications. The association makes suggestions concerning church music compositions and research. He maintains contact with the Protestant Church, the German Music Council and the Federal Association of German choral associations (BDC ). 1951, the Working Group Pueri Cantores was founded.

President of the German section is Monsignor Wolfgang Bretschneider, vice-presidents are Reiner Schuhenn and diocesan music director Marius Schwemmer. CEO Oswald is joy kingdom (Regensburg). Objectives and tasks can be described with the motto of its founder Franz Xaver Witt: "We want nothing more than the practice of the transport, which the Church has arranged about the music ". The liturgy should be protected from distortions, before alienations and preserved in its original beauty.

Decorations and medals

Within the Association there is the possibility to award deserving members or choirs:

Publications

In addition to the magazine for Catholic church music of the ACV are just out writings, sheet music and sound recordings.

• Sacred music (magazine), Barenreiter -Verlag, Kassel ISSN 0179-356 X.
• Church Musical Yearbook. Editorial Board Ulrich Konrad.
• Series of about 30 publications on church music topics.