August Batzem

August Batzem (born August 26, 1889 in Cologne , † January 29, 1976 ibid) was a Rhenish folk singer ( tenor ) and carnivalist.

Life

At the age of 17, the son of a mail order master was on stage for the first time as a solo entertainer . From then on he worked as a mood singer and entertainer at numerous variety shows and in carnival. In 1925 there was a permanent close collaboration with Willi Ostermann . Batzem had many Ostermann songs in his repertoire, but then also began to write his own songs. This is how numerous carnival songs were created, some of which are still anchored in Cologne songs today. The works he wrote with text and music include songs like Ich bin der Pötze Fuß , Mer drive into the Alpe , Today we want to have fun, or Annemarie .

In the 1920s, in addition to his stage career, he began a successful period as a record singer and radio artist, with which he became known far beyond Cologne. A discography lists a total of around 250 recordings with Batzem, often as “Rheinischer Volkssänger” or “Tenor, Köln a. Rh. ”Was designated. He played the songs several times with the Paul Godwin orchestra . Well-known shellac records are among others Down there in the valley by the rushing brook , The departure , I'm drawn to my home again , The wanderer returns tired , Where can he be, where can he stay and a girl probably went on a ship . Some of his songs are still available today as MP3 downloads.

Grave site (Südfriedhof)

Even after the Second World War , Batzem appeared in the Cologne carnival and occasionally on television. He did not end his stage career as planned at the age of 70, but only in 1969 due to a serious illness.

Despite all his successes, August Batzem still had a middle-class profession. He was employed as a works clerk and camerawoman (probably in the public service), which perhaps explains the fact that he joined the NSDAP right at the beginning of the Nazi state , on April 1, 1933 . In contrast to some other Cologne carnival singers, this probably had no effect on his artistic work.

Batzem's grave is located in Cologne's southern cemetery (hall 20).

Sound documents (selection)

• Homocord
  • Ho 4-2443 (M 19 561) The small ones have to be Nüggel han (W. Ostermann) / (M 19 562) Rheinlandmädel (W. Ostermann)
  • Ho 4-2444 (M 19 563) If you have a mother-in-law (W. Ostermann) / (M 19 564) There is only one German Rhine! (W. Ostermann)
  • Ho 4-2775 (M 20 396) Rheinisches Trinklied (Maass) / (M 20 397) Herrlicher Wein (Wirts - Schievelbusch)

• Odeon
  • O-11 295 (Be 9137) Where the throttle has struck. Folk song / (Be 9138) Back from wandering (Röhm - Franke)
  • O-29 021 (Be 15 468) Mer drive in de Alpe (Aug. Batzem)
  • O-29 023 (Be 15 579) What are you going to do in Malaga? (Aug. Batzem)

• Beka
  • B. 6875 (37 984) Et Bützgriesche (Gerh. Ebeler)
  • B. 6876 (37 980) Dä Köbes un sin Nies, die han ald wedder en Knies (Gerh. Ebeler)
  • B.6878 (37 981) On the Rhine with wine there lives love happiness (Gerh. Ebeler)

• gramophone
  • 22 858 (1738 BH-III) The loyal Hussar (H. Frantzen)
  • 23 110 (1359 1/2 BN) Departure (tomorrow my darling wants to go away) (K. Schauß)
  • 23 681 (1367 1/2 BT) Tonight there will be an affair! (Ebeler - Otten)
  • 23 858 (1360 BN) Waldeslust (Fr. Hannemann)

• Electrola
  • EH 846 (BLR 4013) Rhine, Wein and Mädgelein (Ebeler - Otten) - March 1928
  • EG 847 (BLR 4012) A Rhenish girl enjoying Rhenish wine (Hoppe - Mertens) - March 1928
  • EG 887 (BLR 4091) Elslein von Caub (Filke - Sartori) / (BLR 4095) Greet me the blond child from the Rhine (Heiser) - May 1928
  • EG2081 (BD 9043) Where can it be, where can it stay? Folksong / (BD 9033) A girl probably went on a ship. Folksong - September 1930
  • EG2098 (BD 9034) A hiker returns tired. Folksong - September 1930
  • EG2099 (BD 9044) I'm drawn to my homeland again (Mandt - Frantzen) - September 1930

• Ultraphone
  • A 243 (10 362) Rötsch mer jet (W. Ostermann) - October 1929
  • A 257 (10 476) Mer han still mood in d'r Bud ' (Gerhard Ebeler) - November 1929
  • A 258 (10 469) Nä, I don't like you mie (W. Ostermann) - November 1929

• Elite special
  • 80 122 (ED 1057) Oh, stay here (Batzem) / Et Vögelche fleut (Batzem), 1954

Re-releases

a) on CD

• CD “Frivole Lieder” contains track 14 “Tonight we’re making an affair”: August Batzem with orchestra.
• CD "Help my money is gone!" contains as track 12 “Children don't let their courage sink”: August Batzem with orchestra.
• CD “Kölsche Evergreens 32: Jetz weede ahl Krätzcher geresse” contains as track 5 “Adelheid!” - track 8 “I've got a new papa” - track 11 “Marieche, Marieche, listen to me!” : August Batzem with orchestra accompaniment.
• CD box “Dat singende un klingende Kölle” 4 CDs, label: Carl, order number: 8759500, date of publication: November 11, 1998. Contains:
  • On CD 1: track 5 August Batzem: Loss Mer Noch E Glasche Schlupp, track 9 August Batzem: Happy Is Who Laughs And Sings, track 16 August Batzem: E Kölsch Drinkleed, track 20 August Batzem: Am Rhein Beim Wein, Da Wendet Of the love...
  • On CD 2, track 3 August Batzem: M'r Seht, Dat Du 'Ne Liebe Gute Papa hass', track 6 August Batzem: Drink and Laugh, track 19 August Batzem: Marieche, Marieche, Hör Op Mich!
  • On CD 3, track 11 August Batzem: Adelheid!
  • On CD 4, track 8 August Batzem: Ich Han 'Ne Neue Papa

b) on Youtube :

• "Ober! Quickly another round" - March song (Willi Ostermann) August Batzem, tenor with Paul Godwin Ensemble. Grammophon 21 910 (Matr. 918 BH -IV) - 1928
• I kiss you. Old folk song (arrangement by Blumenberg). August Batzem, tenor - Cologne am Rhein, with orchestral accompaniment. Gramophone 22 730 (Matr. 1742 BH) - 1930
• "The Departure" (Tomorrow my sweetheart wants to leave) - song (Karl Schauß).

August Batzem, tenor - Cologne am Rhein, with men's quartet and Paul Godwin artist ensemble. Grammophon 23 110 (Matr. 1359 1/2 BN -III)

• The first bottle is empty. Mood song (E. Neubach and F.Schwarz), sung by August Batzem with orchestral accompaniment. Homocord-Electro 4-3193 (TC1503)
• We're not going home! Mood waltz song (I.Reckmann and F. Schwarz), sung by August Batzem with orchestral accompaniment. Homocord-Electro 4-3193 (TC1504) - 1929
• Mer drive in de Alpe (Aug. Batzem) sung by August Batzem. Odeon O-29 021 (Be 15 468) - 1953

Illustrations

• Label from Homocord 4-2444 August Batzem - If you have a mother-in-law (A 6.12.27)
• Label from Homocord 4-2775 August Batzem - Rheinisches Trinklied / Herrlicher Wein (A 5.9.28)
• Label from Grammophon 22 730 August Batzem - Waldeslust
• Label from Electrola EG847 August Batzem with Marek Weber Orchestra - A Rhenish girl enjoying Rhenish wine

Web links

• Literature by and about August Batzem in the catalog of the German National Library

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Berthold Leimbach (ed.): Sound documents of cabaret and their interpreters 1898-1945. Göttingen 1991.
2. ↑ Fred K. Prieberg: Handbook German Musicians 1933-1945. CD-ROM. Auprès de Zombry 2004
3. ↑ Information at Musicload
4. ↑ Information from Bear Family  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )
5. ↑ Information at karneval.de ( Memento from February 16, 2013 in the Internet Archive )