[ Deutsche Version ] [ Association "Friends of Viennese Music" ]
 he Viennese folk music with its
merry songs and dances, but also with its melancholy and depression, have a
centuries old tradition.
Chronicles report about musicians that came downstream by Danube boats and rafts and
played their country fashion music and dances. Already back then there were groups of musicians and
bands in various line-ups. Most of these country bands included a "Linzer violin", a
big double-bass which underlined the rhythm with its low bass tone. It was an ancestor of the
contra-guitar (bass-guitar). But also the harp was an ancestor of the contra-guitar.
Long before the famous ensembles of the Schrammel brothers were formed, there were quartets
and trios in the Viennese suburb. These used two violins, a clarinet, harp and the Linzer
double-bass, later a guitar. Starting in the 1830s the Viennese button-harmonica (button-accordion)
began to make its place in this genre of folk music.
Vienna's native music experienced an unequalled boom at the end of the 19th century.
This was due to the brothers Johann and Josef Schrammel and also inspired masters like
Schubert and Beethoven. They gave their name to a whole music genre with their splendid playing.
The two brothers showed the musical talent of their parents already in their early youth. They
went to study the violin at the Viennese conservatorium with the help of generous sponsership
of the "Viennese Fiaker". There they were educated to become excellent musicians.
The hard times after the big stock market crash lead to the two brothers turning to the
"Heurigen-music", mainly because of financial reasons. They formed a trio, the
"Nussdorfers", together with Anton Strohmayer, which began their astronomical rise.
This trio became the Schrammel-Quartet, when the well-known clarinetist Georg Dänzer joined
them with his "sweet wood" G-clarinet. The quartet became popular in the salons of the
palaces and at court, but also in international concert halls. Among the listeners of the
Schrammeln was Johann Strauss, as well as Johann Brahms.
Johann Strauss once said after listening to the Schammeln for six hours with enjoyment,
o preserve the old Viennese
tradition, and to be and stay musicians; this was the wish of the men who joined in 1984 to form
the Malat Schrammeln ensemble.
Some of them belonged to the big Viennese orchestras like for example the Viennese
Philharmonic Orchestra, Folks Opera Orchestra, the Radio Orchestra and others.
They decided to make an enjoying and varied concert programme using the traditional,
classic Viennese folk music by Strauss, Lanner, Schrammel up to the operette literature
by Lehar, Kalman, Stolz and others, but also using modern Austrian composers in old Viennese
style.
Their success shows what a good idea it was to remember the old musical treasures.
They play concerts all over the world: They make appearances all the time in the USA,
China, Japan and of course in all European countries.
 ut they also delight their
audience at home:
- They are a regular part of the "Wiener Festwochen" (Viennese Festival Weeks) and of the
"Musikalischer Sommer - Klangbogen Wien" ("Musical Summer").
- They play as musical ambassadors of Austria in public at receptions and at
high society events.
- The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation presents music programmes with the
Malat Schrammeln on a regular basis.
- Concerts are held in Vienna and all Austrian provinces on a regular basis.
- During the first 10 years of their musical work they produced more than 30 LPs, MCs and CDs.
- The ensemble can present the various facets of the Viennese music using various line-ups:
as a duo, quartet, quintet or Viennese trio.
- Upon request the appearances can be filled in with singing, reciting or original parts
(like for example an original Viennese art-whistler).
- If that still isn't enough "Vienna" for the customer, then they can even stage
a big Vienna-Gala-Show with the appropriate soloists.
Contact address:
Rudolf Malat
Leitgebgasse 7/5a
A-1050 Vienna
Austria, Europe
Telephone: +43 (1) 54 40 752
Fax: +43 (2954) 302 12
Copyright (C) 1996 - 2006 - All rights reserved.
last updated 31/05/2006
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