marching band "Klingendes Spiel"

70 years of "Klingendes Spiel" Seppenrade: German champion, Steuben parade in New York and lots of making music together

The "Klingendes Spiel" marching band in Seppenrade is celebrating its 70th birthday. The association is celebrating its milestone birthday with an anniversary concert and a photo exhibition. In this interview, honorary chairman Klaus Bücker talks about the first girls' group in the marching band, the great successes and the visit to the Steuben Parade in New York.

Klaus Bücker: Absolutely. And of the 80 members, a third are children and young people. We've only managed that because we've developed musically. We not only play typical marching band songs such as Preußens Gloria, but also a lot of modern music. We also have a strong club life. We like to celebrate. And we do a lot, we go to Phantasialand, the trampoline hall or ice skating.

Let's look back a little. How did it all start?

Bücker: It all started in 1953, when Adolf Stallmann from the Kolping Association had the idea of founding a marching band in Seppenrade. After a Kolping evening, interested young men were quickly found and off they went. Nobody knew how to play an instrument, except for the skipper's piano or harmonica. Without further ado, instructors were brought to Seppenrade to learn the fingerings. The group was founded in January and played at the Schützenfest in July.

Bücker: No, initially by ear, then later according to a fingering chart. It was only when we were able to engage two very well-known instructors from Hürth-Efferen near Cologne in 1984 that we switched to sheet music. They had said: When we come, you have to learn sheet music.

What do you particularly like to remember when you look back?

Bücker: I remember many wonderful times in the community. I remember successes: we became German champions several times and won 20 trophies in various competitions in some years. It was also a great experience to attend the Steuben Parade in New York, when we marched down Fifth Avenue with many other German clubs. Then we visited a shooting festival. In the middle of New York. That was crazy.

Tell me about the founding of the girls' group...

Bücker: The first girls' group was founded here in 1973, the first in the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia. And that was a sensation at the time. At first, the senior members of the club weren't so enthusiastic and told the three girls who asked that 25 girls would have to be found to form their own group. There were then 30 who wanted to join and by the time it was officially founded, there were even 60.