Johann Schrammel - Was Öst'reich is', Alt-Wienerlied (c. 1878)
Johann Schrammel (22 May 1850 – 17 June 1893) was an Austrian composer, musician and folk singer. In 1878, together with his brother Josef Schrammel and guitarist Draskovits, he founded a trio called "D'Nußdorfer". In 1879, Draskovits was replaced by Anton Strohmayer. In the same year, the trio became the famous Schrammel Quartet with the addition of clarinettist Georg Dänzer. The quartet gained great popularity with its way of playing folk Viennese music and thus became the founder of the Schrammelmusik named after it.
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Was Öst'reich is', Alt-Wienerlied (c. 1878)
Lyrics by Wilhelm Wiesberg
Günther Groissböck & Karl-Michael Ebner
Philharmonia Schrammeln
Schrammelmusik is a style of Viennese folk music originating in the late nineteenth century and still performed in Austria. The style is named for the prolific folk composers Johann and Josef Schrammel.
In 1878, the brothers Johann Schrammel (1850–1893) and Josef Schrammel (1852-1895), musicians, violinists and composers from Vienna, Austria, formed an ensemble with guitarist Anton Strohmayer, son of the celebrated composer Alois Strohmayer. The Schrammel brothers played two violins, accompanied by Strohmayer on a double-necked contraguitar. Inspired by both urbane and rustic traditions, the three musicians performed folk songs, marches, and dance music, most often for audiences at wine taverns (Heurigen) and inns around Vienna. At first the trio called themselves the "Nussdorfers" after the village of Nussdorf where they often performed.
In 1884 clarinetist Georg Dänzer [de] joined the group, which soon enjoyed phenomenal success under the name "Schrammel Brothers Specialities Quartet" (Specialitäten Quartett Gebrüder Schrammel). The ensemble was invited to perform in palaces and mansions as "Schrammel euphoria" gripped the Viennese elite. So great was the Schrammel brothers' popularity that some earlier folk music forms, such as the Wienerlied dialect song, came to be known as Schrammelmusik as well. The Schrammels' popularity eventually extended throughout Europe and in 1893 they were invited to perform at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
The Schrammels composed more than 200 songs and music pieces in just seven years. Johann Schrammel died in 1893, followed two years later by Josef. Each brother was 43 years old at his death, and both died of nephritis.
A typical Schrammelmusik ensemble consists of two violins or fiddles, a double-necked contraguitar, and a G clarinet (also known in Austria as a picksüßes Hölzl). Often a button accordion, called a Schrammelharmonika, is included.
Performers strive for a melancholy, "crying", but melodious sound. The style is influenced by folk music from Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Moravia and Bavaria.
Several of Vienna's composers of formal music have also been Schrammelmusik enthusiasts, including Johann Strauss, Johannes Brahms, and Arnold Schönberg.
Disclaimer: Google translates. Not official lyrics.
1. Out there, they have this habit,
when they're just among themselves,
that they mostly only talk about Austria behind each other's backs.
The two of us are patriots,
we're not allowed to hear such things,
otherwise, the blood starts boiling immediately –
quick, Laudon, Moon, and Star.
We say to them right away:
"Yeah, do you have an idea?"
Refrain
Who hasn't been to Vienna and doesn't know Linz,
who hasn't already strolled around Graz,
who hasn't seen Salzburg, the paradise,
has no idea what Austria really is!
3. A wandering journeyman with a stick
and a hat in his hand,
he gets caught by a policeman
just as he's roaming the land.
The judge says: 'We've already sent you away three times;
you keep coming back –
all free and carefree.'
'Yeah, yeah, Mr. Commissioner,
I just keep getting drawn back here!'
Refrain
4. The professor is examining a student who, over the year, has been in a tavern a lot more often than in the lecture hall.
“Define Austria geographically for me according to the map.”
“Doctor,” the student replies, “[?] You can’t really describe it – so I’d rather just leave it as it is.”
Refrain