Flasher on the Rhein, aka Jetzt trink´n ma noch a Flascherl Wein

This song sounds modern to me. It was written by Conrad Lorenz, 1851-1909. I love this energetic performance, which has been stuck in my head for days:

The German version is not about a flasher or the Rhein, it's “Let’s drink another bottle of wine”, with lyrics about drinking and dancing till early in the morning. I think of my former band-mate Henry, who enjoyed life and drinking and dancing up to his 100th year!

Karl Hartwich

Happy Oktoberfest everybody! I would love to hear a band like this in person, but today I will settle for this YouTube version!

Barbara polka

the great Eddie Lash
Originally a Czech tune, the Barushka Polka.
https://thesession.org/tunes/13181
The version often playing in my head is this one by Romy Gosz!

Grandmother's Joy

Yes, I'm still listening to lots of oompah. Today it's Grandmother's Joy Laendler. Jerry Schuft on concertina:

As a concertina solo, by Josh Sellner:

Christmas Boarischer

Tegernseer Tanzlmusi

Here is an alpine-style group worth listening to. https://www.tegernseer-tanzlmusi.de/

auf der Pfingstwiese

This tune is played by various groups; I first heard it on Meeblech's 2nd CD. Here's a lovely version by Michael Maier & seine Blasmusikfreunde -

some Zither music

Hope your March is going okay! Here's some pleasant Bavarian-style Zither music performed by Ludwig Kalbrunner.

Erpfenhauser Dorfmusikanten

So sorry to have no Oktoberfest celebrations this year, but on the bright side, here's Erpfenhauser Dorfmusikanten! What a good group!

It started in Scranton!

It started in Scranton, it's now No 1
It's bound to entertain you
Everybody has a mania
To do the polka from Pennsylvania

Musikantenstadl exists in our world

Happy Oktoberfest season! Let's turn our thoughts now to Musikantenstadl! For better or worse.

An Oktoberfest favorite

US Marine Band

What an excellent ensemble!  It's the excitement of a circus, a crowd, a festival. For me, this is fantastic and joyous music that isn't merely 'patriotic'.

The complete Sousa marches are available as free MP3 downloads:
https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Audio-Resources/The-Complete-Marches-of-John-Philip-Sousa/

Many of these videos play with full scores:
https://www.youtube.com/user/usmarineband

I'm trying to learn Semper Fidelis as a concertina solo - - it's going to take me a while!

Mariechen Waltz

This was Whoopee John's theme song for many years. For me, it has a musical depth not often associated with polka music.

Here's the Whoopee John band under the direction of Vern Steffel. I'm guessing that means it's after Willfahrt's death in '61:

Here's a version that I am guessing predates Whoopee John's:

Here's one from 1909, maybe the oldest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUh9I4ynFv8

A slow one for Steirische Harmonika students https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjNn3gukWNU

nice longhair Steirische solo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XXjuxF4ysQ 

another Steirische version with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XWX2F8-ekY

Wayne Ripke band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvEcoifWOsE

Choppmotorrad Freunde Musikanten

Curtis sent me this version of Trumpetten Echo:

The group's name translates to something like 'chopper motorcycle musician friends'.  They're people, and they make music, so that's good. I'm not going to judge beyond that. I can  imagine being there, and wanting out. Actually they sound pretty good. They've got bandoneons!

Here's a longer video.

Moravanka

The musicianship is strong with the popular Czech band Moravanka! Wonderful music.

German marches

I haven't posted for a while, but be assured, I have been enjoying plenty of polkas, waltzes, marches and laendlers.

Here we have some classic german marches, with lyrics!
Don't let the military connotations spoil it for you. Most of these lovely tunes pre-date the horrors of the 20th century.

Polka Dan Zantek

Blow Musik is based in San Francisco. We find that there's a lot of great polka music happening in other parts of the world. Today's subject, Polka Dan, is from Alaska!

Ernst Mosch Rarities!

It's September! Oktoberfest season is just a couple of weeks away!

Here's an Ernst Mosch documentary to get you in the mood.

Polka 78s

Classic polka music on the internet. Great stuff here!
https://archive.org/details/georgeblood?and[]=polka  --

also https://archive.org/details/kahleaustinfoundation?and[]=mediatype%3A%22audio%22&and[]=polka