Mountain Band of the Bundeswehr | |
---|---|
Gebirgsmusikkorps der Bundeswehr | |
Active | 1 July 1956 |
Country | Germany |
Branch | Bundeswehr |
Type | Military Band |
Size | 60 |
Part of | Joint Support Service |
Garrison/HQ | Garmisch-Partenkirchen |
Commanders | |
Head Conductor | Major Rudolf Piehlmayer |
The Mountain Band of the Bundeswehr (German : Gebirgsmusikkorps der Bundeswehr, GebMusKorpsB) is a military band in the German Bundeswehr. It is based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a mountain resort in Bavaria, southern Germany. It was originally established as the band of the 1st Mountain Division and is now associated with Military District IV. It was established as the band of the 1st Mountain Division in 1956 in Sonthofen. After being temporarily stationed in Munich and Mittenwald, it finally was permanently based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1963. [1]
The core of the band is the large symphonic concert band. It takes place part in approximately 160 missions per year, most of which primarily take place in the Bavarian region. It has also taken part in international military music festivals in Canada, the United States, Finland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom with other international missions in seeing it go to Kabul (Afghanistan and Termez (Uzbekistan). One of the most famous appearances of the band includes the participation in the 1972 Summer Olympics and the participation in military tattoos in Halifax in 1989 and 1998.[ citation needed ] In 2004, it visited Budapest as a German congratulatory event in honor of Hungary's entry into the European Union. In 2011, it took part in the Virginia International Tattoo [2] and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. [3] Folklore tunes can be heard from the Oberkrainer and brass section. The "Alphorngruppe", the "Hüttn-Musi" and the "Stubn Musi" provide typical Alpine music from within the band. [4]
Nine conductors have served as heads of the band: [5]
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Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an Alpine ski town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the seat of government of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, which borders Austria. Nearby is Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, at 2,962 metres (9,718 ft) above sea level.
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