From Bayreuth violin accompaniment and Franconian songs in Hungary: A research center deals with the past and present of folk music in Franconia. Scientifically accompanying folk music in Franconia and bringing it closer to professionals and laypeople – that is the task of the Research Center for Franconian Folk Music. This year the facility in Uffenheim in Central Franconia is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Not only pieces of music, sheet music and instruments are researched, but the social context, customs and traditions.
“We are not the folk music police that say: ‘You are allowed to do that and you are not allowed to do that'”, is how director Heidi Christ describes the self-image. “We are the ones who look and ask: Why did they do it that way? Who were the people?” The target group of the institution? “All”. These are individuals who are looking for a special song, as well as scientists, students and musicians – and not just from Franconia. Because there is no such thing as “typically Franconian” folk music of its own, which is only played and heard within the limits of today’s Franconia.
“Music doesn’t stop at the border and says: ‘Stop, I’m from Franconia, I’m not allowed to go to Lower Bavaria'”, says the folk music researcher. The peculiarities are more detailed: There are special styles that are at home in very small regions. In the Bayreuth area, for example, there is a special violin accompaniment. “Anyone who has heard this once recognizes it immediately,” says the head of the research center.
A new right tries to take over folk music for itself
Sometimes research is also carried out abroad: descendants of Franconian emigrants still sing the “bachelor’s waltz” from Franconia in the area north of Lake Balaton in Hungary. Again and again the researchers encountered the prejudice that folk music is something for the elderly. In fact, all generations have to do with folk music over and over again, says Christ. Folk music that is “noble, true and good” and never changes – this notion, on the other hand, is nonsense. “It only lives on if traditions can and are allowed to change carefully,” she says.
For a long time it was fought that the Nazis occupied this area too, says Christ. The traditional costume clubs would have freed themselves from this corner. Today, however, there is again a “new right” that tries to co-opt folk music for itself: ethnic settlers who make folk evenings, right-wing extremists who supposedly sing ancient German folk songs. “A lot happens there and that is definitely not without its dangers,” says the folk music researcher.
One challenge for the coming years is the further digitization of the collection of the research center, which was founded in 1981. This now includes tens of thousands of sheet music, notebooks and part books as well as thousands of records. It is also important to research what has changed the corona pandemic, says Christ. Clubs and groups broke down – “but something new has definitely also emerged.”
And new material is always being added: “There are still a lot of attics and music cabinets in some basement. There are still a lot of conversations with musicians,” says Christ. “Because we work with living music, with living people, the work will never run out.”