Bergmannorchester only German group on first weekend's program

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Bergmannorchester, an 18-member community orchestra from the salt-mining community of Wolmirstedt in northeastern Germany, soon had Heritagefest-goers clapping and tappin' in the Rosen tent at the Brown County Fairgrounds Friday.

The "strongly brass" musical group which is making its second visit to Heritagefest in eight years had the distinction of being the only German musical group on the program for the opening weekend of Heritagefest.

"We first started coming over to America in 1993, and we're making our seventh trip now," explained the group's director, Dieter Bednorz, through an interpreter. "We first started coming to New Ulm in 1996, and this is the second time we have come here."

The group's sound technician and interpreter, Michael Morche, who works in a radio station in Wolmirstedt, said the orchestra first started coming to America at the behest of a "German immigrant who lives in Florida." That individual then was able to get the group connected with Heritagefest officials in making their first appearance in 1996, Morche said.

The group combines trombones, trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, accordions, guitars, drums and, on rare occasions, an electronic keyboard into the type of brass sound that has been popular through the years in Germany. They've found the sound plays well at Heritagefest, too.

Bednorz said the group's brass sound mirrors the tastes of many Germans now "as there is a tendency more to brass instruments."

"It is the only reason we're here; it's a good appreciation for the brass sound," said Burkhard Goers, one of the three vocalists in the orchestra.

"We try to do as much as possible with natural instruments," Bednorz added.

That means the group only uses the synthesizer keyboard when a special sound is called for in the music they're playing, Morche explained.

Their music repertoire is, therefore, "heavy on brass music" -- marches and other music that lends itself to the brass sound, Morche said, "but we do a lot pop music, from the 70s and a lot of music (which Americans would call schmaltzy)."

For example, the orchestra plays a medley of songs including "Que Sera, Sera" and "Arrivederci Roma," not the usual fare for German polka bands.

The orchestra was formed in 1965 as a musical diversion for local salt miners, Morche explained. The group's name means literally "salt miners' orchestra," and it is registered by the German government which is akin to U.S. organizations obtaining non-profit status so they don't have to pay taxes, Morche said.

From here, the group flies to Florida to spend a week in central Florida. They won't be performing; they're just having a mini-vacation with their benefactor before returning home to Germany.