Alpenrose brings unique blend of music

Showband kicks off Heritagefest

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The Six-piece Bavarian show band Alpenrose brought Alpine traditions and authentic ethnic music to the 19th Annual Oktoberfest in the German Rivers Room at the Holiday Inn Friday night.

It was the Watertown, Minn. group's second Oktoberfest visit here, according to group founder Josef Diethelm.

"Great party," said Diethelm. "I wish we could have stayed here longer. We would like to play here both weekends, but we were previously booked in Omaha."

The group played in La Crosse and Sioux Falls last weekend along with New Ulm's Concord Singers. The band also performed in Milwaukee and Madison, Wis. and will travel to Rhinelander, Wis. next weekend.

Diethelm created the band in 1993 after he was approached by St. Paul's Germanic Institute about assembling a dance group for their annual Fasching dance.

He called on his wife Priscilla and sister Barbara Farrell to share their music abilities.

Priscilla has Austrian ties, as does drummer Greg Traxler, which flavored some of the band's music.

The band's yodeler, lead singer, trumpet soloist and Alphorn player, Jim Strehlke, is a music and religion teacher at Mayer Lutheran in Mayer, Minn.

The newest member of the band, Joey Johnson, formerly toured with Frankie Yankovik as a banjo player.

Nowadays, he plays accordian and can play guitar and drums, according to Josef.

Diethelm has Swiss ties, which helped bring the Alphorn, cow bells and Swiss, Bavarian and Austrian yodeling to the group.

"We really aren't at all polka, rather Alpine Folk music with storytelling and songs from the past 200 years," said Diethelm. "We play a lot of music from within 150 miles of Munich. From Slovenia, in the top of Yugoslavia to some Rhine River songs in the north. Lots of the drinking songs come from the north."

German music lovers should have no trouble relating to the band's music.

"These songs are in the genes of Germans. Their grandparents were singing these songs," said Diethelm.

Oktoberfest goers came from afar.

Two couples drove up from Mitchellville, Iowa, just west of Des Moines.

Maggie Stoet and her husband Ned made the four-hour trip to New Ulm for the third time.

"It's a lot of fun. We stopped at just about every town, at antique stores, spending much of the day on the road," said Maggie. "We enjoy all the things that go on here including downtown events, the brewery and stores here."

Mel and Marie Cook of Comfrey said they come to the New Ulm Oktoberfest every year.

"We like the food and the music. They've really got good food here," said Marie.

Lore Peterburs, a German immigrant from Peoria, Ill., made the trip to New Ulm with 50 other German Society members on a charter bus.

She also attends Oktoberfests in Peoria and Milwaukee, Wis.

Peterburs hailed from the Ruhr Valley in West Germany.

Oktoberfest events continue in downtown New Ulm Saturday at 11 a.m.

The fare features horse-drawn trolley rides and children's games including the lollipop tree, ring toss, and Boinko.

Other downtown events Saturday include a putting green, bingo, a beer garden, fresh-cooked brats, pull tabs and old-time music.

At the Holiday Inn, pool side music begins with the Valley Boys at noon and will continue until midnight.

The Jolly Ramblers start playing in the German Rivers Room at 2 p.m. They will host a Polka Mass between 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Music in the German Rivers Room will continue Saturday until 1 a.m.

Sunday, the Wendinger Brothers will perform from 1:30-5 p.m. at Turner Hall.