Melodists

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The Melodisten were a German vocal ensemble from the 1930s . They profited from the success of the Comedian Harmonists by adopting their style of singing and some songs.

1934-1935

With the dissolution of the Fidelios (previously Harmony Boys ), the members and other singers formed the Humoresk Melodios and the Melodists :

  • Werner Doege ( piano )
  • Wolfgang Schmidt ( tenor )
  • Wolfgang Leuschner (tenor)
  • Gerhard Ulrich ( baritone )
  • Hans von Bachmayr-Heyda ( bass )

These melodists existed until 1935, after which the name was not used until the end of 1937.

1937

With the dissolution of the Spree Revellers in October 1937, the members needed a new name for their ensemble, which was made up at that time

  • Werner Doege (piano)
  • Friedrich Mietzner (baritone)
  • Bernhard Wehlan (bass)
  • Georg Liedtke (tenor) and
  • Walter Elsner (tenor) passed.

Werner Doege provided the name of his old group of melodists.

1938

After a tour throughout Germany, the melodists appeared again in early 1938 on the radio and on television. On February 19, the revue “Ki sua heli” premiered in the Deutschlandhalle , which caused a great sensation with the world's first indoor flight ( Hanna Reitsch ). After the group's successes, the two tenors had to be replaced in July 1938.

  • Werner Doege (piano)
  • Friedrich Mietzner (baritone)
  • Bernhard Wehlan (bass)
  • Fritz Döpke (tenor)
  • Werner Preuss (tenor)

For a KdF tour from September to November 1938, the new line-up rehearsed a full-length concert program that was enthusiastically received by the audience.

1939

After the performance of the revue “A kiss travels around the world” in the Deutschlandhalle, Werner Doege left the melodists to devote himself to his thesis. Gerd Elstermann joined the ensemble as a new pianist - Herbert Imlau returned after the master sextet was dissolved (Fritz Döpke had to give way for him).

  • Gerd Elstermann (piano)
  • Friedrich Mietzner (baritone)
  • Bernhard Wehlan (bass)
  • Herbert Imlau (tenor)
  • Werner Preuss (tenor)

Once again the melodists started a tour that took them to Görlitz , Dresden and Breslau , among others . Despite the adjustment of the selection of songs to the requirements of the Reichsmusikkammer , the end of the group could not be delayed any further.

1940

On May 30, 1940 the melodists gave their last concert in Neisse . All members of the ensemble were drafted into the Wehrmacht.

Records

Melodists' records
  • The old cowboy / The old spinning wheel (Orchester Adalbert Lutter), Telefunken M6032
  • The old spinning wheel / evening bells (Orchestra Jack Alban / Adalbert Lutter), Telefunken M6029
  • Yes, yes on the beach

Movies

literature

  • Booklet of the CD "Rivals of the Comedian Harmonists"

Web links