Hi,

I would like to add a collection I found in the University Library in Bochum. The Parson Louis Pinckh (I cannot remember the Proper spelling) collectes Songs in the Elsace Area. The four Books are full of wonderful german songs, none of the revival Bands ever performed (except me once or twice).

After all, I do not think German Folkmusic is better or worse than English or Irish. True, it has been abused by Nazis, but you cannot blame the songs, can you? I am sure, if you translated some English songs into German, the German-Irish Bands would not sing it any more. The tunes and dances are a really a bit simple, but so are the English Dance Tunes played by the Old Swan Band, Flowers and Frolics etc. If you listen to some of the Jimmy Shand Tunes, they could almost be played by German Oompah bands. If they were, German folkies would hate them. Mind you, the famous Jimmy Sturr Polka Band from USA plays a tune called "Krakowiak" which is the same as Liederjan recorded on one of their albums. The same tune exists in England (I forgot the name) an was recorded by the Old Swan Band.

Greetings,

Ranks