Die Zweiviertel Musikanten heat things up for Blast
By Serra Muscatello — Staff WriterArticle Photos
Fact Box
If You Go:
What: Die Zweiviertel Musikanten show
When: 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. today; 4:30-7:30 p.m. tomorrow
Where: Bavarian Blast, Brown County Fairgrounds
NEW ULM - The Austrian band Die Zweiviertel Musikanten engaged audiences at Bavarian Blast Friday afternoon, the opening day of the fest.
The 10-piece brass and wind orchestra has been performing together for 15 years. They come from upper Austria, Tirol. Many of the band members also play with other music groups in Austria. Their band leader is Christian Hummer.
Mainly, they play Bohemian or "Boemisch" music which has a lot of marches, polkas and waltzes.
Their favorite song to perform for live audiences is "Fuchsgraben" (which means the fox's den).
The kind of music Die Zweiviertel Musikanten plays differs from the Bavarian style of music, according to Otto Werner, of New Ulm. Werner helps to book bands and then arranges tours for them, as he has done for Die Zweiviertel Musikanten.
The band members arrived at midnight on Thursday night and will stay with host families while in New Ulm.
"We were delighted that all their instruments came through all right," said Werner.
Once the band members are done performing at Bavarian Blast, they will travel with Werner to the Mall of America where they will spend a couple of hours. Then, it's off to Wausau, Wis., where they will do a show on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday morning they will drive all day to get to Fargo, N.D. Die Zweiviertel Musikanten will play all weekend for "German Fest" in Fargo.
They will be getting on a plane at 5 a.m. on Monday, July 26, heading back home.
"They (the band members) at midnight last night were so impressed with the congenialty of their host families in New Ulm," said Werner. "They noticed the friendliness and the cleanliness of New Ulm. The grass is all cut and there are no fences on the front of the houses."
Werner said the band members were also impressed with the fine entertainment at Bavarian Blast.
"They're really happy with our fest ... the quality of the entertainment - and they love Schell's beer," said Werner.
