The Gstanzl (

Austro-Bavarian Bavarian (german: Bairisch , Bavarian: ''Boarisch'') or alternately Austro-Bavarian, is a West Germanic language, part of the Upper German family, together with Alemannic and East Franconian. Bavarian is spoken by approximately 12 million pe ...

for ''Gestanzel'', " stanza") is a traditional type of mocking songs particularly known in the

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...

n regions. A Gstanzl normally consists of four lines, sometimes eight, and is sung in dialect. They can either be sung at certain dances (

Ländler The Ländler () is a folk dance in time which was popular in Austria, Bavaria, German Switzerland, and Slovenia at the end of the 18th century. It is a partner dance which strongly features hopping and stamping. It might be purely instrument ...

, Steirische), or are sung without dancing. ''Gstanzln'' (plural of Gstanzl) are normally only sung by men. The content of Gstanzln covers all areas of the life of simple people, normally of people from the countryside. The Gstanzln often have punch lines and are generally humorous. They are mocking authorities like the state, emperor, the land owners, the church or the peculiarities of other people and especially women. At occasions, where multiple Gstanzln-singers meet and alternatingly sing a Gstanzl, they try to respond and outwit each other. Good Gstanzl-singers can go for hours without repeating themselves. Depending on the region, a Gstanzl may also be called Schnadderhüpfl, Schanderhagge, Stückl, Possen-, Trutz- und Spitzliedln, Schleifer, Haarbrecher-Gsangln, Plopper- und Plepper(lieder), Schwatzliedln, Flausen and Schmetterliedln, G'setzln, Basseln, Vierzeilige, Kurschza Liadlan, Schelmeliedle, Chorze Liedle, Rappedietzle, Schlumperliedla or Rundâs. The nature of Gstanzl is close to rapping.

Famous Gstanzl singers

Roider Jackl Roider Jackl (17 June 1906 in Weihmichl – 8 May 1975 in Freising; real name: ''Jakob Roider'') was a German performer, singer, and folk singer, who performed in Bavarian language. He became famous in the 1950s especially because of the wri ...

(17 June 1906 – 8 May 1975)

References

* Ilka, Peter: ''Gaßlbrauch und Gaßlsprüch in Österreich''; Verlag Alfred Winter, Neuauflage 1981 * Seiberl, Herbert, Palme, Johanna: ''Gstanzln aus dem Salzkammergut, 730 Vierzeiler'': 1992 * Hofer, Anton and Strohmayer, Wolfgang: ''Heut gemma nimmer hoam: im Auftrag der ARGE "Singen & Musizieren" im NÖ Bildungs- und Heimatwerk'', Eigenverlag * Hrsg.: NÖ Heimatpflege: ''Lieder aus dem Mostviertel'': Mödling 1993 * Wald, Hella, Jeglitsch, Helmut: ''Gstanzln für's Tanzln''; Eigenverlag 1998 * Falkner, Hans-Peter: ''1234 Gstanzln & CD; Bibliothek der Provinz'', 2. Auflage 1997

External links

Ausseer Video: Landler - Clapping & Gstanzl-singing

Video: Innviertler Landler - Krammerer Zeche (with eight-liner Gstanzln)

Video: Waldhansl - Clapping & Gstanzl-singing

Video: Waldhansl - Dance with Clapping & Gstanzl-singing
{{Authority control Song forms Culture of Altbayern Music in Bavaria Austrian folk music German-language literature Austrian poetry German poetry Humorous poems