21 Musikkorps were eventually established: from Berlin’s Zentrales Orchester and Stabsmusikkorps und Spielmannszug der Stadkommandantur Berlin down to 19 Musikkorps across 4 branches of East Germany’s military service. Stabsmusikkorps Kommandantur Berlin was the designated army band for the Wachregiment ‘Friedrich Engels’, undertaking all military functions at Schönefeld Airport & in the city of Berlin, whilst 'non-military' ceremonies involving Western dignitaries were undertaken by the orchestra of the 'non-NVA' Ministry of State Security's crack unit tasked with defence of the Communist Party, the Wachregiment 'Feliks Dzierzynski'.
The Army (Landstreitkräfte) had a Stabsmusikkorps and 8 Musikkorps, the Air Force & Air Defence Arm (Luftstreitkräfte und Luftverteidigung) a Stabsmusikkorps & a Musikkorps, the Navy (Volksmarine) 1 Stabsmusikkorps & 2 Musikkorps and the Border Troops (Grenztruppen) 1 Stabsmusikkorps & 3 Musikkorps and, to fulfil the state’s political demands, the ‘Erich-Weinert Ensemble’ was established in 1950 as an ‘artistic institution of the NVA.’
Many former Wehrmacht ‘founding fathers’ of East German military music had served under Air Force Head of Music, Prof. Husadel and that exciting ‘Luftwaffe feel’ could still be heard in the post-war performances of the elite Berlin Volkspolizei band, the Zentrales Orchester des MdI, (Ministerium des Innern), notable for its pre-‘45 feel of a strident janissary beat with distinctive high-pitched twirls & embellishments of the woodwind section’s clarinets & piccolos!
DDR Musikkorps details were a state secret and a band would often appear, record an album and disappear into the mists, leaving East German military music as something of an enigma during the days of the Cold War; but Tomahawk Films are pleased to release this exciting & definitive mix of new & old marches in the true German military tradition, including the unique sound of the Kamfpgruppen, (Communist Territorial Army), playing the Schalmei, distinctive multi-horn evoking memories of the Nazi & Communist street fighting days of the 1930s.
18 rare tracks include: Fanfarenklänge, Im Paradeschritt, Lied der Nationalen Volksarmee, Berlin Bleibt Rot, Fichte Marsch, Nationalhymne, Volksmarine Marsch, ‘Stasi’ Wachregiments Lied, Parademarsch Nr.1 and a secret live recording of the Wachregiment ‘Friedrich Engels’ changing the guard at Strausberg Barracks…!
Duration: 47 mins. Price : UK : £14.95 (inc UK p & p) Overseas £15.95
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