Guggenmusik
Encyclopedia
Guggenmusik is a term usually used in the Alemannic
region of Switzerland
, Austria
and southern Germany
, also as "Guggemoseg", "Guuggemusig" or "Chatzemusig", for a Carnival
marching band
.
in Rapperswil
, and many others. The term "Gugge" may derive from the Swiss German
word "Sack/Tüte" meaning "bag" as the most common explanation. Other unsourced explanations include a term used for a small children's trumpet, a (Swiss German) term for "scream", or the cuckoo
's call. Despite this, the term "Gugge" is used for all kinds of brass instruments played during Fasnacht (Swiss German for "Carnival"). A "Guggemusig" band thus refers to a group of people making music, wearing Carnival masks.
It is a strongly rhythmically music of their own, a very specific kind of "false" play of usually brass instruments, pipes and drums. Usually the melodies are very skillfully "false" played, i.e. the melody should be recognized without any doubt, but it sounds pretty slanted, driven by a dominated rhythm section. Thus, a wild, thrilling music is created, very danceable and perfect for spontaneous street concerts during the "wild days" of Carnival. All the musicians of a band are also dressed up and masked. Today there are many types of Guggenmusik to inspire the people in the carnival. Gugge(n) bands often play folk, childrens' music and well-known pop-songs.
It is hard to find a consistent definition of Guggenmusik, as each region has different carnival traditions. Besides the traditional brass instruments like trumpet
, tuba
and/or sousaphone
, trombone
drum
, today almost any other "loud" instruments are in use: steel drum, bagpipe, piccolo
, clarinet
, saxophone
, etc.
was part of the Fasnacht in Basel
. The term "Guggenmusik" is first documented at the Basel carnival of 1906. Since 1934 Guggenmusik boomed and is celebrated usually on Shrove Tuesday
practiced as Guggetag. In the 1950s, the "Gugge fever" spilled over from Switzerland into southern Germany, Italy and Austria.
There is a similar music and costume Carnival tradition in some parts of The Netherlands and Belgium
called "Dweilorkest"
As of today, the largest "international Guggenmusik" meeting of the world is held in Schwäbisch Gmünd
, Germany, gathering bands from Austria
, Germany
, Liechtenstein
, Great Britain
and Switzerland
in that two-day event, attracting every year from 60,000 to 100,000 visitors.
Alemannic German
Alemannic is a group of dialects of the Upper German branch of the Germanic language family. It is spoken by approximately ten million people in six countries: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France and Italy...
region of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, also as "Guggemoseg", "Guuggemusig" or "Chatzemusig", for a Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
.
Definition
In the 21st century, Guggenmusik is part of the Swiss-Swabian-Alemannic carnival celebrated as the Basler Fasnacht, Luzerner Fasnacht, Eis-zwei-GeissebeiEis-zwei-Geissebei
Eis-zwei-Geissebei is a Carnival festival held in Rapperswil on Shrove Tuesday.- History and origin :Its origin may go back to the siege and destruction of the city of Rapperswil at St. Matthew in 1350 by Rudolf Brun, first mayor of the city of Zürich...
in Rapperswil
Rapperswil
Rapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On...
, and many others. The term "Gugge" may derive from the Swiss German
Swiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
word "Sack/Tüte" meaning "bag" as the most common explanation. Other unsourced explanations include a term used for a small children's trumpet, a (Swiss German) term for "scream", or the cuckoo
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
's call. Despite this, the term "Gugge" is used for all kinds of brass instruments played during Fasnacht (Swiss German for "Carnival"). A "Guggemusig" band thus refers to a group of people making music, wearing Carnival masks.
It is a strongly rhythmically music of their own, a very specific kind of "false" play of usually brass instruments, pipes and drums. Usually the melodies are very skillfully "false" played, i.e. the melody should be recognized without any doubt, but it sounds pretty slanted, driven by a dominated rhythm section. Thus, a wild, thrilling music is created, very danceable and perfect for spontaneous street concerts during the "wild days" of Carnival. All the musicians of a band are also dressed up and masked. Today there are many types of Guggenmusik to inspire the people in the carnival. Gugge(n) bands often play folk, childrens' music and well-known pop-songs.
It is hard to find a consistent definition of Guggenmusik, as each region has different carnival traditions. Besides the traditional brass instruments like trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
and/or sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
, today almost any other "loud" instruments are in use: steel drum, bagpipe, piccolo
Piccolo
The piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, etc.
History
Guggenmusik has its origins in the custom of expelling the winter spirits with the blowing of cow's horns. First mentioned in 16th century AD, in the Carnival season the 'spirits of winter' were blown away with rattles, tin pails, drums, cow bells or whistles. Thus the music should be appropriately weird, loud and pitifully. Masks and costumes were used, towels and old rags and it took a lot of imagination to dress up and frighten away the spirits of winter. In 1874, for the first time a brass marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
was part of the Fasnacht in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. The term "Guggenmusik" is first documented at the Basel carnival of 1906. Since 1934 Guggenmusik boomed and is celebrated usually on Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent.The...
practiced as Guggetag. In the 1950s, the "Gugge fever" spilled over from Switzerland into southern Germany, Italy and Austria.
There is a similar music and costume Carnival tradition in some parts of The Netherlands and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
called "Dweilorkest"
As of today, the largest "international Guggenmusik" meeting of the world is held in Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd is a town in the eastern part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. With a population of around 62,000, the town is the second largest in the Ostalbkreis and the whole region of East Württemberg after Aalen...
, Germany, gathering bands from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in that two-day event, attracting every year from 60,000 to 100,000 visitors.