Humorous Melodios

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The Humoresk Melodios were a German vocal ensemble between 1934 and 1943 .

1934

With the dissolution of the Fidelios (previously Harmony Boys ), the melodists and the humoresque melodios are formed from the members and other singers :

  • Olaf Meitzner (1st tenor)
  • Erich Bergau (2nd tenor),
  • Herbert Imlau (baritone),
  • Werner Rössler (bass)
  • Fried Walter (piano)

The Humoresk Melodios made their first appearance under the old name Fidelios on January 13, 1934 in Stettin. Shortly afterwards, their old Fidelios members - now with the melodists - Werner Doege and Wolfgang Leuschner obtained an official order, according to which the newly cast group may neither bring the old repertoire nor call themselves Fidelios. A court distributed the songs to the two successor groups and prohibited the further use of the name Fidelios. In March 1934, Humoresk Melodios had their first film appearance in "Joy of Life". They sang “A little carelessness can't hurt” and were seen in close-up shots as yodelers in a short scene.

In May 1934 Herbert Imlau resigned due to artistic differences. Olaf Meitzner took over the baritone voice and Alfred Thomas was a new tenor.

  • Alfred Thomas (1st tenor)
  • Erich Bergau (2nd tenor),
  • Olaf Meitzner (baritone),
  • Werner Rössler (bass)
  • Fried Walter (piano)

In July 1934 Fried Walter arranged a parodic version of Ketelby's "On a Persian Market", which became the signature tune of the ensemble, even if no recordings were made. In September 1934, the group stood in front of the camera for the short soundtrack film “Die rosarote Brille” by Hans Deppe. Also in September 1934, the blue and white suits of the Humoresk Melodios, which they chose as their trademark, in order to set themselves apart visually from the competition. The first appearance in their new suits was in the “Regina” in Dresden.

1935

Because of Werner Rössler's accident in June and Olaf Meitzner's illness, the group had to take a break. During this time, Fried Walter also left the group to pursue his classic ambitions. It was not until autumn 1935 that the group continued with new pianists:

  • Alfred Thomas (1st tenor)
  • Erich Bergau (2nd tenor),
  • Olaf Meitzner (baritone),
  • Werner Rössler (bass)
  • Siegfried Schulz (piano)

1936

The first concert followed in February 1936 in Stuttgart.

1937

November 1937 the Humoresk Melodios appear in the revue “Sunshine for All” in the “Apollo Theater” in Nuremberg, again with a different cast:

  • Erich Bergau (tenor),
  • Werner Rössler (bass)
  • Hans Nowak (baritone, formerly Melody Gents)
  • Siegfried Schulz (piano)

1939-1943

They were on tour with this revue until the beginning of 1939. Then the line-up changed again:

  • Alfred Thomas (1st tenor)
  • Erich Bergau (2nd tenor)
  • Olaf Meitzner (baritone),
  • Hans Nowak (bass)
  • Fried Walter (piano)

Numerous engagements followed, during the war increasingly as troop support. Since Hans Nowak was no longer able to stay in the group as a “ half-Jew ”, he left. The rest of the group also had to bow to the zeitgeist and do without the "humorous". The last time the Melodios performed was in Nuremberg in June 1943.

Records

title Accompaniment Record company Year of admission
Talk to me about happiness 1935
Marikka (Forty Second Street)
Court concert in the rear building (Organ Grinder's Swing) Telefunken musician M 6351 1937
Weekend fox James Kok Orchestra 1935
Little seagull flies to Heligoland Erwin Hartung
Today I was at the lost property office James Kok Orchestra
dusk James Kok Orchestra
A small island lies in the blue sea Orchestra Adalbert Lutter
A fairy tale from Vienna Gramophone 10216A 1934
A stroll through the German song Gramophone 10216B 1934
Sunshine for everyone Otto Stenzel Orchestra Gloria 41283 1939
I wish I were a chicken Gramophone 10521 1936
A little recklessness can't hurt Gramophone 10234 1934
The Fridolin does this with one hand Gramophone 10256 1934
If I win the big ticket Gramophone 10342B 1935
Raindrops / All the little angels dance Gramophone 10426 1935

Movies

  • Rejoice in Life (Germany 1934)
  • The rose-colored glasses (Germany short film 1934)

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