The golden seven

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The Golden Seven was a well-known German dance and entertainment orchestra in the 1930s.

history

The initially seven-member formation was brought into being in Berlin in 1934 with the express approval and support of the National Socialists . In order to prevent German lovers of Anglo-American jazz, disparaged as “degenerate” by the Nazi rulers, from listening to foreign broadcasters, the regime wanted The Golden Seven to be “German jazz” or “modern German dance music” in the sense of melodic, rhythmically catchy pieces play. The founders were the guitarist Harald Kirchstein (alias Henri René ) and the pianist Willi Stech , as a NSDAP member previously resident pianist and programmer for Berlin's Deutschlandsender .

The cast of the Golden Seven was drawn from top Berlin orchestras such as that of Hans Bund . Several soloists, including Adalbert Luczkowski , Kurt Hohenberger , Franz Thon , Willy Berking , Eddie Brunner and Freddie Brocksieper made careers as orchestra conductors after their time with the Golden Seven. In changing line-up, Erhard Krause , Georg Haentzschel , Rudi Wegener, Ernst Höllerhagen , Kurt weg , Hans Korseck and Waldemar (Waldi) Luczkowski continued to play in the formation . As a studio orchestra, the recordings of which were broadcast on the radio, Die Goldene Sieben with its international and German compositions quickly became one of the most popular entertainment orchestras of the Third Reich. Well-known singers such as Rudi Schuricke and Peter Igelhoff recorded records with the ensemble, which at times grew to 14 musicians. In addition, there were sound film productions. Kirchstein wrote the music for “Verräter” in 1936; In 1937 “ People without a Fatherland ” and “ Togger ” followed.

The attempt to create a conforming “German jazz” with the Golden Seven failed, however. The formation exceeded the narrow musical boundaries set by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and the Reich Chamber of Culture . According to the censors, their style quickly became "too swinging" and too "hot". After several reprimands and broadcast bans, Goebbels ordered the (almost) final end at the beginning of the Second World War in 1939 . Nevertheless, in April and May 1940 there were still some recordings of radio broadcasts that have been preserved on records (on matrices from RRG 58257, for example, a broadcast from Bremen has been preserved, partly (22 min 30) published on the Hans-Buchholz CD " Hit treasures from the German Broadcasting Archive ”, Koch 323578 G 1).

Recordings on Electrola records (selection)

  • My heart is still free , from the film " Verräter " (music: Harald Kirchstein; April 1936, EG 3677, matrix ORA 1338-2)
  • I wish I was a chicken , from the film " Glückskinder " (music: Peter Kreuder , text: Hans Fritz Beckmann ; June 1936, EG3744, matrix ORA 1395-1)
  • The music plays very softly , Refraingesang: Die Metropol-Vokalisten (Music: Harald Kirchstein Text: Willy Dehmel ; September 1936, EG3732, Matrize ORA 1451-2)
  • I feel that I miss you , (music, text: Fred Kassen ; January 1, 1937, EG3855, die ORA1738)
  • Sirocco , from the film "Togger" (music: Harald Kirchstein; February 1937, EG3878, die ORA1794-1)
  • Eccentricity , from the film "Togger" (music: Harald Kirchstein; February 1937, EG3S73, matrix ORA1796-2)
  • 'Tain't No Use (Music by Ken Lane ; March 1937, EG 3915, die ORA1912-1)
  • Swingin 'The Jinx Away Baby (Music: Cole Porter ; March 1937, EG63916, Matrize ORA1313-2)
  • Capriolen , from the film " Kapriolen "; Refraing singing: Peter Igelhoff (music: Peter Kreuder, text: Hans Fritz Beckmann; June 29, 1937, EG3996, die ORA 2154)
  • Rhythm of Joy (There's an new world) , (Music: Jimmy Kennedy, Michael Carr, Text: Kurt Feltz ; June 1937, EG3971, Matrize ORA2061-2)
  • Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (Music: James A. Bland; October 1937, EG6123, Matrize ORA2383-1)
  • St. Louis Blues (music: WC Handy ; November 11, 1937, EG6132, die ORA2384-1)
  • Because the D-Zug leader is getting married today , from the film " Little Man - Very Big " (music: Friedrich Schröder , text: Hans Fritz Beckmann; February 1938, EG6288, die ORA2762-2)
  • Love is a tricky game , from the film " Last Night's Girl "; Lecture song with Hilde Hildebrand (music: Werner Bochmann , text: O. H. Palm; February 1938, EG6283, matrix ORA2759-1)
  • Dancing again and again (Music: Franz Muck; May 1938, EG6355, Matrize ORA2922-2)
  • Oh aha! , Refraingesang: Rudi-Schuricke -Terzett (music, text: Emil Oskar Robert Huber alias Bob E. Huber, Jakob Trommer alias Jack Trommer, February 1939, EG6712, die ORA3635-2)

See also