Festival of Political Songs

Last updated
Festival of Political Songs
Festival des politischen Liedes
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-0217-028, Berlin, Festival des politischen Liedes.jpg
SWAPO Children's Choir, 1989
Genre Rock, folk, political music
DatesFebruary
Locations East Berlin, East Germany
Years active1970–1990
FoundersOktoberklub, Free German Youth

The Festival of Political Songs (German: Festival des politischen Liedes) was one of the largest music events in East Germany, held between 1970 and 1990. It was hosted by the Free German Youth and featured international artists.

Contents

History

The Festival of Political Songs was founded by the group Oktoberklub and took place in East Berlin every February from 19701990 as an official event of the Free German Youth. The event was first organized by the Berlin division, but from 1975 on was directed by the Central Committee of the Free German Youth.

Artists from 60 countries participated in the event during its duration, and the event usually featured between 50 and 80 artists across around 30 countries. Prominent artists who have performed at the festival include Mikis Theodorakis, Miriam Makeba, Quilapayún, Inti-Illimani, Silvio Rodríguez, Mercedes Sosa, Gabino Palomares, Canzoniere delle Lame  ( it ), and Pete Seeger accompanied by Chilean-exile and Berkeley based folk group Grupo Raiz. [1] The mascot of the festival was a red sparrow named Oki (derived from Oktoberklub).

After the collapse of East Germany, the festival lost financial support and infrastructure. In order to continue the tradition, a new festival called the ZwischenWelt Festival was held between 1991 and 1995. Its supporting organization dissolved in 1995 because of financial difficulties.

Experiences and issues

Though people were brought together by the festival, there was the issue of a language barrier. With many different performers singing in so many different languages, understanding the lyrics was one of the issues the audience faced. According to "Memories of the GDR Political Song Festival" by Clara Bohner, "although the broad mass of listeners didn’t understand many lyrics, they enjoyed the music and the rhythm", which still served to enable the sense of fraternity among audience members despite the language barriers in the music. [2]

Another issue was that even though the festival was intended to be a socialist event that was held in factories and designed to appeal to the working class, most of the people who attended were intellectuals among the high school and college ages. Even though the concerts were held in factories so that more workers could attend, the working class people did not have the same amount of time to devote to culture as the students. [3]

DateArtists featured
February 15–21, 1970Reinhold Andert Flag of East Germany.svg , Kurt Demmler Flag of East Germany.svg , Singeklub der Lessing-Oberschule Hoyerswerda Flag of East Germany.svg , Hartmut König  ( de ) Flag of East Germany.svg , Gisela May Flag of East Germany.svg , Oktoberklub Flag of East Germany.svg , Gruppe Pasaremos Flag of East Germany.svg , Die Conrads Flag of Germany.svg , Judith Csaba Flag of Hungary.svg , Gerilla-Gruppe Flag of Hungary.svg , Il Contemporaneo Flag of Italy.svg , Cynthia Nokwe Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg , Iskateli Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , Joan & José Flag of Spain.svg
February 7–13, 1971Lyrik-Song-Klub Flag of East Germany.svg , Singeklub Traktorenwerk Schönebeck Flag of East Germany.svg , Renate Richter and Hilmar Thate Flag of East Germany.svg , Jürgen Walter + Günther-Fischer-Gruppe Flag of East Germany.svg , Münchner Songgruppe Flag of Germany.svg , Perry Friedman Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg , Quilapayún Flag of Chile.svg , Agit-Prop Flag of Finland.svg , Francesca Solleville Flag of France.svg , Laura Panti + Sergio Liberovici Flag of Italy.svg , Maryla Rodowicz Flag of Poland.svg , Luís Cília Flag of Portugal (official).svg , Lutschina Group Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , Vietnamese Singing Group Flag of Vietnam.svg
February 13–19, 1972Hartmut König Flag of East Germany.svg , Singeklub Potjomkin Flag of East Germany.svg , Helga de Wroblewsky + Thomas Natschinski Flag of East Germany.svg , Dieter Süverkrüp Flag of Germany.svg , Isabel Parra Flag of Chile.svg , Silvio Rodríguez Flag of Cuba.svg , KOM Teatteri Flag of Finland.svg , Canzoniere delle Lame Flag of Italy.svg , Kaláka Flag of Hungary.svg , Bhupen Hazarika Flag of India.svg , Aleksander Kulisiewicz Flag of Poland.svg , Sergei Nikitin Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , Fria Proteatern Flag of Sweden.svg , Barbara Dane Flag of the United States.svg
Political Song Festival of the 5th World Festival of Youth and Students

(July 29–August 5, 1973)

Reinhold Andert Flag of East Germany.svg , Klaus Renft Combo Flag of East Germany.svg , Spartakus Flag of East Germany.svg , Franz Josef Degenhardt Flag of Germany.svg , Floh de Cologne Flag of Germany.svg , Lokomotive Kreuzberg Flag of Germany.svg , Lamari Flag of Algeria.svg , Cuatro Tiempo Flag of Argentina.svg , Klara Amandova Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg , Inti-Illimani Flag of Chile.svg , La Columna de Fuego Flag of Colombia.svg , Agit-Prop Flag of Finland.svg , Max Rongier Flag of France.svg , Vízöntő Flag of Hungary.svg , Canzoniere Internazionale Flag of Italy.svg , the Singing Voices Flag of Japan.svg , Pesniary Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , National Service Jazz-Band Flag of Tanzania.svg
February 10–16, 1974Songgruppe TU Dresden Flag of East Germany.svg , Jahrgang 49 Flag of East Germany.svg , Floh de Cologne Flag of Germany.svg , Klara Amandova Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg , Inti-Illimani Flag of Chile.svg , Quilapayún Flag of Chile.svg , Claude Réva Flag of France.svg , The Laggan Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Muszti & Dobay Flag of Hungary.svg , The Sands Family Flag of Ireland.svg , Miriam Makeba Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg , Daniel Viglietti Flag of Uruguay.svg , Guy Carawan Flag of the United States.svg
February 9–15, 1975Jack & Genossen Flag of East Germany.svg , Franz Josef Degenhardt Flag of Germany.svg , Lokomotive Kreuzberg Flag of Germany.svg , Perth County Conspiracy Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg , Tiempo Nuevo Flag of Chile.svg , Pablo Milanés Flag of Cuba.svg , Søren Sidevinds Spillemænd Flag of Denmark.svg , Kumiko Yokoi Flag of Japan.svg , Los Folkloristas Flag of Mexico.svg , Kalambur Flag of Poland.svg , José Afonso Flag of Portugal (official).svg , Elvina Makarjan Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
February 7–14, 1976Schicht Flag of East Germany.svg , Helga + Clement de Wroblewsky Flag of East Germany.svg , Ekkes Frank Flag of Germany.svg , Peter, Paul & Barmbek Flag of Germany.svg , Santocas Flag of Angola.svg , Quinteto Clave Flag of Argentina.svg , Isabel Parra + Arturo Cipriano Flag of Chile.svg , Moncada Flag of Cuba.svg , Pia Colombo Flag of France.svg , The Whistlebinkies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Deepa Mukhopadhyay Flag of India.svg , Gruppe aus dem Irak Flag of Iraq.svg , Bots Flag of the Netherlands.svg , GEM + Krystyna Giżowska Flag of Poland.svg , Mircea Florian Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg , Marcos Velásquez Flag of Uruguay.svg
February 12–19, 1977Reinhold Andert Flag of East Germany.svg , Singeklub Hoyerswerda Flag of East Germany.svg , Bernd Rump Flag of East Germany.svg , Floh de Cologne Flag of Germany.svg , Fasia Jansen Flag of Germany.svg , Suni Paz Flag of Argentina.svg , Aparcoa Flag of Chile.svg , Inti-Illimani Flag of Chile.svg , Pedro Luis Ferrer Flag of Cuba.svg , Jatarí Flag of Ecuador.svg , 25. Theater Budapest Flag of Hungary.svg , Canzoniere del Lazio Flag of Italy.svg , Aliança Operario-Camponesa Flag of Mozambique (1975-1983).svg , Bots Flag of the Netherlands.svg , Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy Flag of Nicaragua.svg , Mustafa El-Kurd Flag of Palestine.svg , Cuatro Tablas Flag of Peru.svg , Carlos Paredes Flag of Portugal (official).svg , Víctor Manuel Flag of Spain.svg , Mike Glick Flag of the United States.svg
February 13–20, 1978Schicht Flag of East Germany.svg , Barbara Thalheim Flag of East Germany.svg , Dieter Süverkrüp Flag of Germany.svg , Hannes Wader Flag of Germany.svg , Wilhelm Zobl Flag of Austria.svg , Quilapayún Flag of Chile.svg , Yaki Kandru Flag of Colombia.svg , Os Kiezos Flag of Angola.svg , Moncada Flag of Cuba.svg , Mike Westbrook’s Brass Band Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Maria Dimitriadi Flag of Greece.svg , Tamás Berki Flag of Hungary.svg , Singing Group of Revolutionary Youth Flag of Laos.svg , Al Mayadine Flag of Lebanon.svg , Trovante Flag of Portugal (official).svg , Rosa León Flag of Spain.svg , Grenada Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , Ernst Born Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg , Timur Selçuk Flag of Turkey.svg , Frederic Rzewski Flag of the United States.svg
February 10–18, 1979Brigade Feuerstein Flag of East Germany.svg , Folkländer Flag of East Germany.svg , Jahrgang 49 Flag of East Germany.svg , Karls Enkel Flag of East Germany.svg , Hanns-Eisler-Chor Flag of Germany.svg , Uschi Flacke Flag of Germany.svg , Taller Luis Emilio Recabarren Flag of Chile.svg , Gruppe aus Äthiopien Flag of Ethiopia (1975-1987).svg , Claude Réva Flag of France.svg , Maria Farandouri Flag of Greece.svg , Stormy Six/Macchina Maccheronica Flag of Italy.svg , Singing Group of the Mongolian People's Republic Flag of the People's Republic of Mongolia (1945-1992).svg , Carlos Mejía Godoy Flag of Nicaragua.svg , Spring Group Flag of Vietnam.svg , ASHEED Flag of the Yemen Arab Republic.svg
February 9–17, 1980Reinhold Andert Flag of East Germany.svg , Brigade Feuerstein Flag of East Germany.svg , Gruppe Neue Musik Flag of East Germany.svg , Jahrgang 49 Flag of East Germany.svg , Liedehrlich Flag of East Germany.svg , Franz Josef Degenhardt Flag of Germany.svg , Los Parra de Chile Flag of Chile.svg , Agit-Prop Flag of Finland.svg , Tamás Berki Flag of Hungary.svg , the Sands Family Flag of Ireland.svg , Macchina Maccheronica Flag of Italy.svg , Gruppe aus Kampuchea Flag of the People's Republic of Kampuchea.svg , Ballada Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , Daniel and Cédar Viglietti Flag of Uruguay.svg
February 8–15, 1981Chor Berliner Parteiveteranen „Ernst Busch“ Flag of East Germany.svg , Chor der EOS Kreuzschule Flag of East Germany.svg , Gerhard Schöne  ( de ) Flag of East Germany.svg , Wacholder Flag of East Germany.svg , Floh de Cologne Flag of Germany.svg , Dosti Flag of Afghanistan (1980-1987).svg , Schmetterlinge Flag of Austria.svg , Los Jaivas Flag of Chile.svg , Bjarne Jes Hansen Flag of Denmark.svg , José W. Armijo Flag of El Salvador.svg , Francesca Solleville Flag of France.svg , Battlefield Band Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Maria Dimitriadi Flag of Greece.svg , Lajos Boros Flag of Hungary.svg , Abdullah Ibrahim Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg , Bongi Makeba Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg , Panorama Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , Dean Reed Flag of the United States.svg
February 14–21, 1982Arbeiterfolk Flag of East Germany.svg , Kurt Demmler Flag of East Germany.svg , Gerhard Gundermann Flag of East Germany.svg , Hannes Zerbe–Blechband Flag of East Germany.svg , Pietsch/Körbel Flag of East Germany.svg , Liederjan Flag of Germany.svg , Hannes Wader Flag of Germany.svg , Hanns-Eisler-Chor Flag of Germany.svg , Quinteto Tiempo Flag of Argentina.svg , Sigi Maron Flag of Austria.svg , Illapu Flag of Chile.svg , Chris Cutler Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Duo Voga/Turnowski Flag of Hungary.svg , Bots Flag of the Netherlands.svg , Orkest de Volharding Flag of the Netherlands.svg , Ad Hoc Singers Flag of the United States.svg
February 13–20, 1983Ina Deter Flag of East Germany.svg , Orchester der Musikhochschule Dresden Flag of East Germany.svg , Jürgen Eger Flag of East Germany.svg , Lin Jaldati Flag of East Germany.svg , Silly Flag of East Germany.svg , Jürgen Walter Flag of East Germany.svg , Cassiber Flag of Germany.svg , Duo Goebbels/Harth Flag of Germany.svg , Patricio Manns Flag of Chile.svg , Noel Nicola Flag of Cuba.svg , Mikis Theodorakis Flag of Greece.svg , Willem Breuker Quartett Flag of the Netherlands.svg , Letta Mbulu Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg , Oskorri Flag of Spain.svg , New York Street Theatre Caravan Flag of the United States.svg
February 12–19, 1984Pialkowski/Rieck Flag of East Germany.svg , Schicht, Wenzel & Mensching Flag of East Germany.svg , Duck and Cover Flag of Germany.svg , Hannes Wader Flag of Germany.svg , Zupfgeigenhansel Flag of Germany.svg , Mercedes Sosa Flag of Argentina.svg , Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung Flag of Austria.svg , Los Jaivas Flag of Chile.svg , Ángel Parra Flag of Chile.svg , Khaled el Habr Flag of Lebanon.svg , Gabino Palomares Flag of Mexico.svg , Jackson Kaujeua Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg (Namibia), Czesław Niemen Flag of Poland.svg , Schanna Bitschewskaja Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , Utamaduni Flag of Tanzania.svg
February 10–17, 1985Karls Enkel Flag of East Germany.svg , Gina Pietsch Flag of East Germany.svg , Rotdorn Flag of East Germany.svg , Dieter Süverkrüp Flag of Germany.svg , Zupfgeigenhansel Flag of Germany.svg , Atahualpa Yupanqui Flag of Argentina.svg , Eric Bogle Flag of Australia (converted).svg , Bruce Cockburn Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg , Quilapayún Flag of Chile.svg , Silvio Rodríguez + Afro-Cuba Flag of Cuba.svg , Budka Suflera Flag of Poland.svg , Miriam Makeba Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg , René Bardet Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg , San Francisco Mime Troupe Flag of the United States.svg
February 16–23, 1986Norbert Bischoff Flag of East Germany.svg , Kerschowski Flag of East Germany.svg , Pension Volkmann Flag of East Germany.svg , Franz Josef Degenhardt Flag of Germany.svg , Cuarteto Cedrón Flag of Argentina.svg , Aroona Flag of Australia (converted).svg , Francis Bebey Flag of Cameroon.svg , George Hewison Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg , Pony Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg , Billy Bragg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Leon Rosselson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Herman van Veen Flag of the Netherlands.svg , Grupo Pueblo Flag of Nicaragua.svg , Amandla Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg , Pi de la Serra Flag of Spain.svg , Grupo Raiz/Osvaldo Torres Flag of the United States.svg , Pete Seeger Flag of the United States.svg
February 15–22, 1987 Gerhard Gundermann Flag of East Germany.svg , Wenzel & Mensching Flag of East Germany.svg , Maike Nowak Flag of East Germany.svg , Dietrich Kittner Flag of Germany.svg , León Gieco Flag of Argentina.svg , Mercedes Sosa Flag of Argentina.svg , Attila the Stockbroker and The Neurotics Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Red Music Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Maria Dimitriadi Flag of Greece.svg , Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy Flag of Nicaragua.svg , Heber Bartolome Flag of the Philippines.svg , Elżbieta Wojnowska Flag of Poland.svg , Abdullah Ibrahim Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg , Maria del Mar Bonet Flag of Spain.svg , Luci Murphy Flag of the United States.svg
February 14–21, 1988Aufwind Flag of East Germany.svg , Arno Schmidt Flag of East Germany.svg , Gerhard Schöne Flag of East Germany.svg , Duo Sonnenschirm Flag of East Germany.svg , Sturmvögel Flag of East Germany.svg , Cassiber Flag of Germany.svg , Wolf Brannasky Flag of Germany.svg , Johannes Hodek Flag of Germany.svg , No Fixed Address Flag of Australia (converted).svg , Erika Pluhar Flag of Austria.svg , Maria da Paz Flag of Brazil.svg , Moncada Flag of Cuba.svg , Ewan MacColl + Peggy Seeger Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Amparo Ochoa Flag of Mexico.svg , Norma Gadea Flag of Nicaragua.svg , Carlos Mejía Godoy Flag of Nicaragua.svg , Tania Libertad Flag of Peru.svg , ANC-Ensemble Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg , the Kalahari Surfers Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg , Yarınistan Flag of Turkey.svg Flag of Germany.svg , Sweet Honey in the Rock Flag of the United States.svg , Stella Chiweshe Flag of Zimbabwe.svg
February 12–19, 1989 Gerhard Gundermann Flag of East Germany.svg , Jams Flag of East Germany.svg , Jalda Rebling Flag of East Germany.svg , Arno Schmidt Flag of East Germany.svg , Die Zöllner Flag of East Germany.svg , Heinz Rudolf Kunze Flag of Germany.svg , Zwei Drittel Flag of Germany.svg , Chalk Circle Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg , Santiago Felíu Flag of Cuba.svg , Billy Bragg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Oyster Band Flag of the United Kingdom.svg , Angelo Branduardi Flag of Italy.svg , DPRK Youth Ensemble Flag of North Korea.svg , SWAPO Children's Chorus Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg (Namibia), Michelle Shocked Flag of the United States.svg , Daniel Viglietti Flag of Uruguay.svg
February 11–18, 1990Reinhold Andert Flag of East Germany.svg , Norbert Bischoff & Gesellschaft Flag of East Germany.svg , Gerhard Gundermann Flag of East Germany.svg , Bolschewistische Kurkapelle Flag of East Germany.svg , Oktoberklub Flag of East Germany.svg , Duo Sonnenschirm Flag of East Germany.svg , IG Blech Flag of Germany.svg , Ute Lemper Flag of Germany.svg , Konstantin Wecker Flag of Germany.svg , Mercedes Sosa Flag of Argentina.svg , Inti-Illimani Flag of Chile.svg , Fanfare van de Eerste Liefdesnacht Flag of the Netherlands.svg , Terem Flag of the Soviet Union.svg , The Klezmatics Flag of the United States.svg

See also

References

  1. "Festivalteilnehmer 1970–1990 – Festival Musik und Politik" (in German). Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  2. Bohner, Clara (2023-11-20). "Memories of the GDR Political Song Festival". secondworldmusic.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  3. Grüning, Barbara (2024). "The spatialization of music and politics in festival spaces: The social, symbolic and emotional structuring of the Festival of Political Songs in the German Democratic Republic". Sage Journals. Retrieved 2025-12-06.