Sogenanntes Linksradikales Blasorchester
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 in Frankfurt, Germany |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Frankfurt , Germany |
Key people | Heiner Goebbels, Alfred Harth, Rolf Riehm |
| Products | Music albums |
The Sogenanntes Linksradikales Blasorchester (translated as So-called Radical Left Wind Band) was a politically motivated wind band established in 1976 in Frankfurt, Germany. The ensemble frequently performed at protest rallies, including Rock gegen Rechts events and the Russell Tribunal. Its founding members and consistent contributors were accomplished musicians such as Heiner Goebbels, Alfred Harth, and Rolf Riehm. The group released two albums, which were reissued in 1999, before ceasing activity in 1981.
History
Originating in 1976 in Frankfurt, the Sogenanntes Linksradikales Blasorchester revolved around key figures Heiner Goebbels and Alfred Harth, both of whom were solo performers and collaborators within the Duo Goebbels/Harth. Other prominent participants included Rolf Riehm and Thomas Jahn. The ensemble consisted of around twenty musicians, with only a minority being professionals. Collaborations extended to actor Ernst Stötzner and publicist Cora Stephan, who took up flute playing to join the group.
The band aligned itself with student-led demonstrations promoting political and social change, emphasizing themes such as civil disobedience, anti-nuclear activism, and human rights advocacy. Performances often took place within Frankfurt’s Sponti movement context, featuring politically charged compositions inspired by Hanns Eisler, notably his "Solidaritätslied" with lyrics by Brecht. Their setlist merged original works by Goebbels, Harth, and Riehm; adaptations of pieces by Frank Zappa and Nino Rota; reinterpretations of classical music including a Bach prelude from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier; alongside Chilean folk tunes. Vocals frequently incorporated political poetry penned by authors like Erich Fried and Peter-Paul Zahl.
The ensemble took part in demonstrations opposing the construction of the Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant and protests against the Gorleben Nuclear Waste Repository. They also performed at concerts for Rock gegen Rechts, which aimed to counter far-right ideologies, as well as appearances at the Russell Tribunal. Their work has been characterized as music serving as a form of practical political engagement ("angewandte Politik mit den Mitteln der Musik"). In 1980, the band was featured at the distinguished JazzFest Berlin, hosted at the Berliner Philharmonie. The group dissolved in 1981.
Members
Musicians featured on the recordings included:[1]
| Thomas Jahn, Gudrun Stocker, Cora Stephan | flute |
| Volker Haas, Reinhard Bussmann, Herwig Heise, Walter Ybema | clarinet |
| Klaus Becker, Johannes Eisenberg, Gunther Lohr | trumpet |
| Barbara Müller-Rendtorff, Rolf Riehm, Henning Wiese | alto saxophone |
| Christoph Anders, Heiner Goebbels, Alfred Harth | tenor saxophone |
| Michael Hoehler, Peter Lieser | trombone |
| Uwe Schriefer, Jörn Stückrath | tuba |
| Ernst Stötzner | vocal |
Recordings
- Hört, Hört (1977, LP, Trikont; reissued as La Cosiddetta Banda (1980, LP, L'Orchestra))
- Mit gelben Birnen (1980, LP, Trikont)
The cover art for the 1980 LP depicts protests at Gorleben. The musical content presents an eclectic and unexpected range of styles and instrumentation.[2] Both albums were later compiled into 1976–1981, a CD released in 1999.[3][1]