Klesmer
The Klesmer were unemployed people from Salzgitter who, mainly in the 19th century, traveled all over the world from Salzgitter as traveling musicians in order to earn money to survive by making music.
Temporal relationships
initial situation
Salzgitter emerged at the beginning of the 14th century around brine springs on the border of the districts of the former villages of Vepstedt , grid and Kniestedt . The settlement got its name from the neighboring village and today's district grid (first mentioned in 1347 as "up dem solte to Gytere"). After 200 years of salt extraction in the saltworks, the Salzliebenhalle , the farmers in the area of today's Salzgitter (-Bad) received town charter around 1350. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Salzgitter was at the height of its development: it had city rights, exercised its own jurisdiction and made considerable profits from salt pans and salt trade.
Change in the economic situation
After the Hildesheim collegiate feud (1519–1523) and the ending Quedlinburg Recess (May 1523), the city of Salzgitter became part of the Principality of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel . Duke Heinrich II. (The Younger) (who among other things expanded Wolfenbüttel Castle ) took Salzgitter's town charter and expropriated the population. The city became completely impoverished. By the Hildesheim main recess (1643) Salzgitter returned to the Bishopric of Hildesheim , but remained the Saline private property of the Guelph dukes. The former salt workers worked in the guilds as linen weavers, potters, tailors and shoemakers. At the end of the 18th century, the city of Salzgitter and the Hildesheim monastery were on the verge of ruin, the pottery came to a complete standstill: people went begging. After 1780 the development of "clergy" began.
Origin of clergy
Wandering musicians basically existed long before that. The emergence of clergy was probably inspired by the Sudeten Germans and Bohemians. Several reasons are likely to have made an important contribution:
- After the French Revolution (1789) a certain addiction to pleasure emerged in Central Europe as a "fear reaction". (Up to 1813 there was an increase in the number of restaurants in northern and central Germany by up to 800%.) Music was an important part of the "pleasure".
- The abolition of the guilds (1809) ensures freedom of trade, so journeyman craftsmen settle down as traders in villages.
- There were economic crises and bad harvests (e.g. 1816), which made additional income necessary.
- The awakening of the joy of amateur music (since 1791 the founding of civil men's choirs) also leads to joy in making instrumental music. Some of the choral societies also need support from instrumentalists.
The first traveling musicians came after 1780; in 1800 there were 16 musicians in Salzgitter (this corresponds to 8% of the working population with 1496 inhabitants). The beginning of the decline in prices in agriculture from 1801 onwards led to emergencies. During the French occupation, artisans increasingly became musicians. The collapse of Prussia in the war against Napoleon (1807) finally led to the Stein and Hardenberg reforms . With these it came in 1810 to the abolition of the guild monopoly and the introduction of the freedom of trade; this meant the economic ruin of many master craftsmen. They simply had the opportunity to work as a musician: the Klesmer musicianship emerged. The income of the musicians at the time of the occupation of Germany by Napoleon's troops was very good, only a few people paid more taxes. The good income opportunities were attractive for the unemployed and part-time workers.
Development in the 19th century
In 1812 there were 41 musicians registered. The first records of Salzgitter musicians abroad (Russia, Scandinavia, England, North America, Mexico) come from this time. In 1815 the Indonesian volcano Tambora erupted and caused global climate change, including the " Year Without a Summer " (1816) in Europe with many storms. There is crop failure and the worst famine of the 19th century. From April to August 1842 there is no rain and therefore there is no harvest. During this time, over 41 chapels leave Salzgitter and travel (in part) to countries outside of Europe. In 1845, 480 citizens of Salzgitter are subject to tax, including 74 band leaders. Good musicians earn as much as the mayor. A sharp increase in the Salzgitter wandering musicians was in 1847/48, because in 1847 the main food potato in Central Europe spoiled by rot . During the time of the great waves of emigration in the 19th century, the Salzgitter musicians also acted as helpers for those wishing to emigrate: They recorded and instructed these, obtained ship maps, looked for cheap transport options and travel routes, accompanied the emigrants to the ports, and looked after them on the ships in their new home or accompanied orphaned children or widowed women back. Around 1870, the Salzgitter musicianship active in Germany reached its peak; about ten years later, the Klesmer active abroad peaked.
The life of the Klesmer
Winter was spent in Salzgitter in one's own house or in a rented apartment. It was time to practice, and alcohol was sometimes heavily used. Petty bourgeois life took place: old people told each other something that young people danced (that was forbidden when making music!), E.g. B. as part of a musicians' ball, games were played and songs were sung. In the summer, mostly men went on a musical tour. When they weren't far away, they sometimes came to Salzgitter for a few days to have their clothes repaired or to deal with the authorities. The women took care of the domestic work and childcare. At the end of the 19th century, they had additional earnings in the spinning mill, weaving mill or as berry pickers. When the men weren't on the road, some of them traded or worked in their old profession (as butchers, bakers, blacksmiths, etc.). Old musician earned money through the fee-based rental (z. B. notes), the basic training of young people, emigrants care or the organ grinder -Musizieren. Some of the people were very superstitious. The "Discuss" was a common healing method was used as "healing verses".
Musical
External structure of the chapels
A typical harp band consists of a violin , a harp (and the harpist's singing ). Sometimes a flute is added. Many bands play with two instruments. The harp is partly replaced by a double bass and guitar or accordion . The brass bands initially consisted of only one brass quartet . Later (sometimes under the name "choir") there are up to 14 people, plus woodwind instruments , drums , sometimes triangles or other special instruments . There are also special bands with up to 75 men. Bagpipe bands consist of two to six bagpipers and drummers. There are also organ grinder and accordion players. The organ grinder appear as individual musicians. The accordion serves as a substitute for drums.
Inner structure of the chapels
The band leader was chosen by the musicians or is, for example, the family man. The trade license is issued in his name, the surname is also the name of the chapel. He makes the travel arrangements and does the bookkeeping / accounting. But he has no privileges (not even financially). The deputy band leader does the control bookkeeping, travels ahead as a quartermaker and selects the places for the concerts. The rights and obligations of the chapel members include the economic service (e.g. cleaning the accommodation). This is divided fairly and also imposed as a punishment; The following are punished: cheating, too long breaks, too much alcohol, improper behavior, etc. In the case of more serious violations, there is a warning or even the violation from the band. The (financial) settlement is carried out daily and weekly; the weekly billing is also used as an opportunity for "discussion" within the chapel.
Young talent training
Basic training
Children between the ages of ten and 14 receive two lessons per week from an older musician. It is played according to notes. The fee is paid in cash immediately after each hour.
Apprenticeship training
After finishing school there is an admission to "Music Theory", duration: three to five years. The official minimum age for musicians in Germany is 25 years, abroad 15 years (exemptions are possible). The apprentice receives: free musical training, free laundry, lodging, food, clothes and pocket money (!). The instruments are provided. For example, the apprentice in a chapel learns 36 pieces of music on three instruments within two years. However, issued apprenticeship letters are not recognized by the guild of town pipers .
Pieces of music
Preference is given to playing: Heimatlieder, folk / fashion songs, light dances, demanding pieces of music; in larger choirs also: potpourris, overtures etc. Popular are: "My heart, this is an apiary", "Du lüttje Deern von Stronen", "When the swallows move home", " There is a wood auction in Grunewald ", "Blue Danube" , "Berlin air". Demanding pieces are z. B. from: Beethoven, Cherubini, Gluck, Meyerbeer, Wagner u. a.
Instruments
The first instruments were brought to Salzgitter by traveling traders from the Bohemian Ore Mountains; the first brass instruments probably came from the Nuremberg area. Violins are obtained from Markneukirchen and Klingenthal , as well as from Braunschweig and Salzgitter. Harps are made by local carpenters, the strings come from Markneukirchen. Flutes are sourced from Klingenthal. Brass instruments are sourced from Saxony , harmonica from Trossingen . Barrel organs come from Waldkirch in Baden and accordions from Klingenthal. At first, repairs are carried out by yourself or by local hobbyists during the winter break; The instruments are carried over the shoulder or on the back.
grades
Except for some street musicians, notes are always played; these are the private property of the band owner and have mostly been written off and partly transposed by musicians as part of their income. Later printed notes are also used.
Travels of the traveling musicians
Information about the trips
Some of the Klesmer musicians only travel part-time as musicians. If pre-financing is necessary (ship tickets or similar), savings are made beforehand, the money is borrowed from wealthy colleagues or from merchants or banks. If necessary, the bands help each other out when performing. Occasions are: weddings, masked balls, choir, fire brigade , war club festivals, balls, parish celebrations, forest concerts, school festivals, ... For trips, it is agreed in advance which band will start when and where which intermediate station to "earn extra".
Verifiably traveled countries
Music trips to Russia are popular. This ends abruptly with the assassination of the tsar (March 13, 1881): there is a quarter of a year of state mourning with a music ban. The freedom of movement is then severely restricted as a result of severely tightened police controls.
Also popular are: the Netherlands, the USA (however mainly the northern states; many chapels 1850–1880), Australia (with South Sea islands) (from around 1852). We also traveled to: Belgium, Mexico (the first overseas country in which Salzgitter musicians can be identified), Guatemala, San Salvador, eastern countries in South America, India, Japan and China (from approx. 1855), Mauritius, South Africa, Egypt (from approx . 1836), Algeria, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Turkey, Arabia, Abyssinia. Music will be played in transit in: Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. Few trips take place to: Greece, Canada and Alaska, Ecuador, Falkland Islands. In other countries there are either no good opportunities to earn money or it is not advisable to go there for other reasons (e.g. political).
In Great Britain there are no good earning opportunities for traveling musicians who want to live exclusively on it.
Develop your own language
The musicians mix special expressions into the normal language to camouflage themselves. Many terms are adopted by traveling craftsmen / from the Rotwelschen . Some terms are brought back from music trips abroad. The language disappears during the First World War.
Decline of Klesmerism
Salzgitter's musicianship lost its importance after the peak years of 1870/1880. As with the development, the reasons are again diverse:
- In general, the European economy is strengthening.
- The community in Salzgitter has blossomed thanks to the money collected by the traveling musicians. This offers a (new) basis for craftsmen or other professions.
- The income from earlier days of traveling musicians is used to create a permanent "secure livelihood in Salzgitter" (over 70% of business owners and homeowners in Salzgitter and the surrounding area are descendants of traveling musicians at the beginning of the 20th century)
- The emergence of local bands (e.g. fire brigade): "Immigrant" musicians are no longer necessary.
- As early as 1856, economic conditions in Salzgitter improved very slowly due to slow industrial expansion after the construction of the railway line.
- 1858 spinning mill / 1890 weaving mill: The musicians prefer domestic work to the insecure, sometimes unhealthy and stressful hiking life.
- 1874 Currency reform in Germany: The earnings of the traveling musicians are suddenly lower.
- Money crises abroad: earnings there are uncertain.
- 1881 Tsar Alexander II of Russia falls victim to an assassination attempt: Quarterly mourning for the country with a ban on making music.
- 1888 Death of Kaiser Wilhelm I .: Quarter-year mourning for the country with a music ban.
- 1888 Emperor Friedrich III dies. : Quarterly national mourning with a music ban.
- 1889 Overthrow of the emperor in Brazil : The stay is uncertain, the exchange rate is less favorable.
- From 1880 purchase of pianos in the pubs: instead of a complete band, only a pianist has to be paid by the landlord.
- Orchestrions and electric pianos hit the market from 1866 .
- From 1900 there are gramophones .
- From 1925 competition from radio .
Before the First World War there were around 50 hiking musicians in Salzgitter. After that there are only a few bands and individual musicians. At the beginning of the 1920s, the spa orchestra had to be provided by outside musicians. The last band played until 1943 (Flecks band).
memories
- In the traditional district of Salzgitter-Bad , streets and squares are reminiscent of the Klesmer, the hiking musicians. Some can also be found as sculptures in the cityscape. On the "Klesmerplatz" several text panels remind of the story.
- Suggested by the city administration, a music association was founded in 1981, which reminds of the tradition and is called "Die Klesmer".
- The Klesmer Festival takes place once a year. The motto of this music festival is, as it were, a reversal of the earlier conditions: while the musicians from Salzgitter moved into the wide world in the 19th century, musicians from all over the world now come to Salzgitter.
literature
- Alfred Dieck: The traveling musicians from Salzgitter , Heinz Reise-Verlag, Göttingen, 1962.
- Ursula Wolff: Die Salzgitterchen Wandermusikanten , leaflet of the city of Salzgitter, published by the Department for Public Relations, Office for Culture, History and Heritage.
- Los conjuntos musicales ambulantes de Salzgitter y sur propagacion en Brasil y Chile durante el siglo XIX, Francisco Curt Lange, Latin American Music Review / Revista de Musica Latinoamericana, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Autumn - Winter 1980).
- Franz Zobel : Die Salzgitterchen Wandermusikanten , in: Blätter für Volkstum und Heimat, Hildesheim, 16. Jg. (1943), Heft 7-9.
- K. Seifert: Legends, fairy tales, tales and customs from the city and monastery of Hildesheim , Kassel - Göttingen 1860.
- Franz Zobel: Legends of the district of Goslar , Goslar 1936.
