Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps (Archival Recordings, 1928-

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Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps (Archival Recordings, 1928-:
$16.95

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The June 2007 Issue of Mit Klingendem Spiel: Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Militärmusik e. V. declares...

“The productions of Brandenburg Historica are always something special. Often, they cover terrain upon which we in Germany do not dare to venture…. Like those before it, this release is distinguished by solid research [and is] Illustrated in exemplary fashion…. A focused and outstanding musical compilation.”

INCLUDES TWENTY TRACKS! NEARLY SIXTY-FIVE MINUTES PLAYING TIME!

This FIRST-EVER Compilation Presents the Marches and Songs of the Premier Formation of the German Army of the Second World War!

Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorpstakes the listener on a musical excursion through the history of the Regiment-, Division- and Panzerkorps- Grossdeutschland, presenting military marches and soldiers’ songs (originally recorded from 1928 to 1943) in a compilation that chronicles this elite unit’s evolution from the Wachtruppe - the guard detachment stationed in Weimar-era Berlin - to the mighty combined arms force of the late war years.

Brandenburg Historica has searched the globe to assemble the priceless 78rpm records that at we have transcribed for this unique compilation. Eighteen of this album’s TWENTY tracks feature marches and soldiers’ songs performed by the unit’s own choruses and/or Musikkorps under the direction of its bandmasters Friedrich Ahlers and Guido Grosch, while the remaining selections highlight vital aspects of Grossdeutschland’s history and career. These extremely rare source recordings have been painstakingly restored for maximum fidelity while faithfully preserving their unique period ambience.

Included in this collection are not only Grossdeutschland’s parade march (the Defilermarsch by Carl Faust) and its presentation march (presented here in a rarely-heard “honor guard” arrangement with the German national anthem), but also a rare transcription of Grossdeutsche Grenadiere, the “regimental song” of GD that features music by GD Obergefreiter Hans-Martin Majewski and lyrics by Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland’s commander in the French Campaign, Oberst Gerhard Graf von Schwerin.

Of particular interest is this album’s stirring 1940 performance of the Panzerlied, sung by a GD soldiers’ chorus with accompaniment by the Musikkorps of Wachbataillon Berlin under Musikmeister Guido Grosch. Also presented is a selection of the chief parade marches and songs of the German mechanized forces of the Second World War, as well as those traditional marches played during guard changing ceremonies and parades in which Grossdeutschland (as the Wachtruppe and Wachregiment Berlin) was a regular participant. Even Grossdeutschland’s rigorous training in the Westerwald in 1939-40 is recalled by this album\'s rousing rendition of the Westerwaldlied, performed by the 1. Musikkorps of the Wachregiment Berlin under the direction of Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers!

Painstakingly researched and produced, Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps is accompanied by a lavishly illustrated, 24-page booklet that presents a detailed overview of Grossdeutschland’s origins and traditions, its service in the Second World War, the history of its two bands and the careers of their conductors (with emphasis on Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers and Obermusikmeister Guido Grosch), as well as detailed background information on the featured musical selections.

Produced with the assistance of the Grossdeutschland Veterans\' Association, Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps tells the story of one of history’s warrior elites and captures in sound the spirit and élan of the premier formation of the German Wehrmacht.

Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps features the following marches, songs and ceremonies:

Präsentiermarsch mit Deutschlandhymne (Friedrich Wilhelm III v. Preussen-Haydn) 2:46
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Obermusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1932

Defiliermarsch AM II, 168 (Faust) 2:20
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Obermusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1928

Grossdeutsche Grenadiere - Marsch und Lied (Majewski-Schwerin) 2:51
1. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments \'Grossdeutschland\' mit Chor
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1941

Regimentsgruss HM II, 4 - Marsch (Steinbeck) 3:0
Musik- und Trommlerkorps des Wachregiments Berlin
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1938

Parademarsch der Kraftfahr-Kampftruppe (Schmidt) 2:59
1. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1939

Marsch nach Motiven aus Quadrillen AM II, 126 (Strauss the Elder) 2:51
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Musikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1928

Grand Changing of the Guard with Drill Commands - Sound Picture (Becker, arr.) a. D. Adolf Becker / Rec. Date: 1928

Soldatenlieder-Potpourri (Von Lützow, arr.) 6:10
Soldatenchor der 7. (Bayrische) Wachkompagnie, Berlin
Unnamed Conductor / Rec. Date: 1935

Oberst von Tippelskirch - Marsch (Bauerfeld) 2:30
Musikkorps des Wachbataillons Berlin
Musikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1941

Westerwald - Marschlied (Trad.-Neuhäuser) 3:27
1.Musikkorps des Wachregiments Berlin mit der
Kradschützen-Singschar der Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3, Berlin-Stahnsdorf
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1938

Pariser Einzugsmarsch AM II, 38 (Walch) 2:39
Musikkorps des Wachbataillons Berlin
Musikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1941

Lied der Infanterie (Kuntzen-Werth) 3:12
Musikkorps des Wachbataillons Berlin mit Chor
Musikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1940

Panzerlied (Gröschel-Wiehle) 2:54
Musikkorps des Wachbataillons Berlin mit Chor
Musikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1940

Marsch nach Motiven der Oper \"Indra\" AM II, 155 (Flotow-Neumann) 2:49
Musikkorps des Wachregiments Berlin
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1938

Marschlied der Panzergrenadiere (Schultze-Seeger) 3:05
Stabsmusikkorps des Wachbataillons \'Grossdeutschland\' mit Chor
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1943

Lied der Sturmartillerie (Pfeffer) 2:44
Ein Musikkorps der Flak-Artillerie und ein Soldatenchor
Musikmeister Victor Heidersberger / Rec. Date: 1941

Landser und Panzer - Marschlied (Majewski-Widmayr) 3:22
1. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments \'Grossdeutschland\' mit Chor
Stabsmusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1941

Soldaten, Kameraden - Marsch (Küssel) 3:05
1. Musikkorps des Infanterie-Regiments Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1939

Alte Garde - Marschlied (Heuser-Schaumburg Lippe) 2:45
Musikkorps des Wachbataillons Berlin mit Chor
Musikmeister Guido Grosch / Rec. Date: 1941

Zapfenstreich Marsch (Trad.-Wieprecht) 2:54
Musikkorps der Kommandantur Berlin (Wachtruppe)
Obermusikmeister Friedrich Ahlers / Rec. Date: 1932

Total Playing Time: 64:50

\"An interesting piece of musical history, concluding impressively with Wieprecht’s Zapfenstreich-Marsch! The [CD] booklet is not only very lengthy at twenty-four pages, with a historical dissertation on the military orchestras of the period as well as an outstanding discussion of each musical piece, but also includes a selection of photos. The technical quality of the CD is outstanding in light of the antiquity of the original recordings. In short, for connoisseurs of historic recordings, this CD is certainly worth it.”

Defilé: Official Publication of the International Military Music Society, Netherlands Branch, September 2006

\"The music is very well played, consisting of marches and also soldier’s songs….this CD is truly amazing in its quality… you would be hard pressed to realize that most of the recordings are over sixty years [old]…. [The CD also includes] a very informative and well-illustrated booklet… ‘Grossdeutschland’ is a superior product worth having.”

RVS: Newsletter of the Robert Hoe Branch of the International Military Music Society, November 2006