Panzertruppe bands

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DavidSJM
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Panzertruppe bands

#1

Post by DavidSJM » 30 Jan 2009, 12:03

The book "Vom Armeemarsch zum Großen Zapfenstreich, ein Lexikon zur Geschichte der deutschen Militärmusik", author: Heinz Busch (2005) contains an entry for "Musik der Panzertruppe" which describes an attempt to introduce for this service arm a special type of military band whose instrumentation would consist solely of brass, kettledrums, and reinforced infantry band percussion (double and triple the pair of cymbals), the purpose of which was to be audible over the clanging of tank tracks and the roar of the engines.

The first time this music made a public appearance was at a parade of Panzer units in Berlin on April 20, 1937; the Musikkorps was formed by 28 students of the military musik programm at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. This form of music was officially introduced in 1937. There were suggestions to mount such a Musikkorps on a Lastkraftwagen (heavy truck?) and have it precede the armoured vehicles on parade. Busch states that because of its questionable musical worthiness, "Panzermusik" never gained wide footing and was given up at the outbreak of the war.

Has anyone seen any photos of such a Musikkorps mounted on trucks or halftracks?
Does anyone know of the existence of a recording by a Panzermusik ensemble?

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Ivan Ž.
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#2

Post by Ivan Ž. » 19 Feb 2009, 21:32



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