Oompapah, Feature for SWR

"Where are you from?" -- The American shows friendly curiosity towards a tourist who orders "coffeh viss milk, pliehs" at the hotel. But what does the American think if the tourist is "frrom Djurrrmeneh?" For generations, Germans have evoked a mix of admiration and fear in Americans. Germany is the country of Goethe and Hitler, autobahn and leather pants, also known as "Lederhosen." Today, almost every city in the United States becomes German for a day with Octoberfests where Paulaner or Lowenbrau beer comes from the keg while a brass band plays music in three quarter bar. We want to tell the story of a young German musician couple who live in the United States. They feel they have outgrown their "Lederhosen," so they try to expand the notion of Germans in the United States. Susanne Koehler and Armin Hadamer are saying that German music is much deeper-rooted in American culture than Americans or Germans would ever dream of. For the past four years, the two have dug out one breathtaking fact after another. Their research has the goal of facilitating an unburdened cultural exchange which, in their opinion, has been blocked by the "Lederhosen" image. They also form a musical duo called "New Minstrels of the Rhine" that travels the United States.

[ Home - English ] [ Home - Deutsch ]