Guggenmusik: Loud Brass Music on Wintry Streets
Guggenmusik does not even try to sound gentle. These bands of brass players and percussionists perform during Fasnet in Switzerland, southern Germany and Austria. What makes such a band, and how does its sound come about? We describe the phenomenon and the mood it creates. That is the angle from which Fasnet-Kompass looks at Fasnet tradition: it sounds as if the street itself had started to play.
What Is a Guggenmusik?
A Guggenmusik consists of brass instruments and percussion. It is not an orchestra in the classical sense, since string instruments are missing. Its music lives on brass and rhythm.
The core is made up of trumpets, trombones, tubas, saxophones and drums. The brass sets the tone while the percussion keeps the beat. The sound is loud: from the first bars, the melodies reach listeners directly. That is why this music is linked with the street and not with the quiet concert hall.
Repertoire, Costumes and Humor
The bands play well-known hits and popular tunes arranged for brass, deliberately loud and often with humor. Volume is part of the character of this music. Trumpets, trombones and tubas carry the familiar melody, the percussion stresses the rhythm, and the saxophones add color. A familiar piece entertains the crowd before anyone has even recognized the tune.
It is not only about music. The players appear in matching costumes and masks. The yearly motto is sometimes satirical, and the costumes are part of the joke. To us this is an important part of the show: music, costumes and satire form a unit.
Where Do the Bands Perform?
The groups play in streets, at parades and in pubs, always loud, with humor and in costume. The brass instruments unfold their full power, and the percussion sets the tempo. The bands also perform at concerts, and such an appearance away from the street is called a Guggenkonzert.
Guggenmusik is a street spectacle and at the same time part of Fasnet tradition, which comes back in a new form every year. We focus on the phenomenon, its mood and its sound. We deliberately leave out the names of individual groups, places and performance dates.
Why Take a Closer Look at This Phenomenon?
Music can be shared fun and not only a performance for an audience. The band plays loudly, rhythmically and with humor. The players combine look, sound and satire into one show. In our view, that is exactly the phenomenon's greatest strength. If you know only classical concerts, you will find a surprising mix of brass, drums, masks and jokes here.
We invite you to get to know Fasnet tradition better with Fasnet-Kompass, an independent topic portal about Fasnet tradition and Guggenmusik.