V planinskem baru – In der Almbar (I. Brüggemann Huberti)

Prenosi

Notni zapis in spremljava

Note

Spremljavo

O skladbi

“V planinskem baru” (Slovenian for “In the Alpine Bar”) or “In der Almbar” (German title) is an instrumental polka by Austrian composer, vocalist, yodeler, and accordionist Ingrid (Inge) Brüggemann Huberti, who also composed under the pseudonyms Janez Rakovec and Martin Eichwalder. Ingrid is best known for her work with Ansambel Janeza Kalška from Slovenia — also known as Slovenski instrumentalni kvintet in the 1960s and 70s, and as Oberkrainer Sextett Janez Kalšek for German-speaking audiences. Today this ensemble is known as Slovenski Muzikantje ali Oberkrainer Sextett.

This polka first caught my attention in an episode of Glasbeni Spomini (Musical Memories), hosted by vocalist and presenter Boris Kopitar on TV Slovenija in the late 2000s to 2010s. The program featured archival footage of Slovenian folk (Oberkrainer) music, alongside interviews and commentary providing valuable historical context.

The original video clip of this polka showcases Ingrid performing an accordion duet with the ensemble’s accordionist Vili Kralj. As in many of their accordion duets, the two engage in a playful, responsive dialogue on their accordions, with Ingrid delivering remarkably complex treble runs that brought something new to the Oberkrainer sound.

In 2017, Boštjan and Brigita Dorič, with their ensemble Jodel Express from Slovenia, revived this piece with a tribute video that visually blends footage of themselves with the original 1970s performance by Ingrid and Vili. I highly recommend watching Boštjan’s immaculate playing and the group’s performance which is a tribute to Ingrid, Vili, Janez Kalšek (double bass), and Andrej Smolej (guitar).

This is my first sheet music arrangement written for two accordions, based partially on the original recording, and building on it with some of my own ideas. If you’d like to play along, I’ve made my bass and guitar accompaniment available as well.