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The 'Wienerlied' is part of Vienna's unique cultural heritage.
It is based on popular culture and blends the comic and the
melancholic. The Viennese infatuation with anything morbid
surfaces regularly. Its popularity is closely linked to locations
of popular amusement like the Prater
or the numerous Heurigen
in Vienna's suburbs, which keep the tradition alive till today.
With the rise of popular theatre in the 19th century (Ferdinand
Raimund, Johann
Nestroy and Ödön von Horvath) the Wienerlied
entered the theatrical stage. Stars of the Wienerlied were
asked to perform and many authors wrote songs for their plays
which were exported to the streets.
Typical instruments are zither,
harp, violin, guitar and clarinette. A hurdy-gurdy and a special
kind of bass guitar represent the rythm section, some add
a harmonica to this. Piping, clapping hands and an elaborate
kind of yodeling called 'dudeln' support the singing. The
Wienerlied has a strong interest in story telling, with up-tempo
parts and breaks to create tension. With its fondness of flat
tones and half-steps the Wienerlied makes full use of the
chromatic scale.
Schrammel quartett
Brothers Johann and Josef Schrammel created their own style
of the 'Wienerlied'. A chromatic harmonica, bass guitar, g-clarinette
and a 'Pascher' - a specialist in clapping hands! - make up
the typical Schrammel quartett. Till today, similar quartetts
are called after the family name: Schrammeln.
Today, the Johann Neuwirth Extremschrammeln have managed
to blend traditional Schrammel music with contemporary jazz
and perform at popular events and jazz festivals alike.
Trudy Mally and Karl Hodina are contemporary performers
of the traditional Wienerlied.
Ludwig Hirsch and his comical and melancholic songs transform
the tradition of Viennese popular music into contemporary
pop songs.
Annualy 'Wean
Hean' Festival presents Wienerlied, Austrian folk music,
world music and jazz in a vibrant and fruitfull combination.
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