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 Garmisch-Partenkirchen (; Bavarian: ''Garmasch-Partakurch''), nicknamed Ga-Pa, is an Alpine ski town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the seat of government of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (abbreviated ''GAP''), in the O ...

, a

mountain resort A mountain resort is a place to holiday or vacation located in an elevated and typically at least relatively isolated area. The term resort implies integral hotel or inn accommodations, restaurants, and either or both sports facilities or scen ...

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 Sonthofen is the southernmost Town#Germany, town of Germany, located in the Oberallgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town. In 2005, Sonthofen was awarded "Al ...

. After being temporarily stationed in Munich and Mittenwald, it finally was permanently based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1963.

Concert Band

The core of the band is the large symphonic

concert band A concert band, also called a wind band, wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind orchestra, symphonic band, the symphonic winds, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion famil ...

. 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 ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

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 The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...

and the participation in military tattoos in Halifax in 1989 and 1998. 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 and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Folklore tunes can be heard from the Oberkrainer and brass section. The "Alphorngruppe", the "Hüttn-Musi" and the "Stubn Musi" provide typical

Alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National Pa ...

music from within the band.

Directors

Bundeswehr - VW T5 des Gebirgsmusikkorps Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Nine

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Music * Conductor (music), a person who leads a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra. * ''Conductor'' (album), an album by indie rock band The Comas * Conduction, a type of structured free improvisation ...

s have served as heads of the band: * Hauptmann Adalbert Muhs (5 April-1 November 1956)Andreas Eichmüller: ''Keine Generalamnestie: Die Strafverfolgung von NS-Verbrechen in der frühen Bundesrepublik''. Oldenbourg, München 2012, S. 330, Fn. 197. *

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

Werner Zimmermann (1 November 1956 – 1 April 1978) * Lieutenant Colonel Heinz Dieter Paul (1 April 1978 – 1 April 1987) * Captain Christoph Lieder (1 April 1987 – 1 December 1992) * Lieutenant Colonel Michael Euler (1 December 1992 – 1 October 2001) * Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Scheibling (1 October 2001 – 1 April 2007) * Lieutenant Colonel Martin Kötter (1 April 2007 – 26 March 2010) * Lieutenant Colonel Christian Prchal (26 March 2010 – 20 May 2014) * Lieutenant Colonel Karl Kriner (20 May 2014 - August 2022) * Major Rudolf Piehlmayer (August 2022 as Reservist- Present)

References

{{Authority control German military bands German musical groups 1956 establishments in Germany Concert bands

Concert Band

Directors

See also

References