They blew the march for the G7 participants: performance by the Freising town band delighted heads of state

Created: 06/28/2022, 08:00

By: Manuel Eser

The Stadtkapelle Freising was even allowed to stand on the red carpet for a night photo with Air Force One.

Jo Biden arrived at Munich Airport in the presidential plane late on Saturday evening.

© Herrmann

Great honor for the Stadtkapelle Freising.

She was allowed to play the welcome marches for the arrival of the G7 state guests at Munich Airport.

The board reports.

Freising – The first thing the G7 participants heard on German soil were not political marching routes, but Bavarian marches.

The Stadtkapelle Freising had the honor of providing musical accompaniment for the arrival of the international heads of state at Munich Airport – just like they did at the G 7 seven years ago in Bavaria.

In the FT interview, Odilo Zapf, chairman and trombonist of the Stadtkapelle, reports on how the heads of state reacted to the marches and why the job was a tour de force.

Mr. Zapf, your ensemble played day and night for state guests at the weekend – quite a feat, wasn't it?

Yes, that was really a huge marathon.

On Saturday we were at the airport from 3:30 p.m. until just before midnight.

Then the 40 or so members of the band hurried home to get a two hour sleep, and by 3:30 we were back at the airport.

On Sunday evening at 7.30 p.m. we finally made it.

Even if the town band has a lot of routine: does such a special performance get you excited?

I wouldn't say excited.

But it was clear to everyone that they were part of a very special story and, despite all the pressure, they pulled along really well.

A big compliment for that!

Seven years ago, the town band played a piece typical of the country for each head of state.

Was that the case again?

This time the state government wanted us to only play traditional Bavarian pieces.

Our conductor Jürgen Wüst then put together a set list with particularly sonorous marches.

But: We only played each piece once.

Each host country also got its own welcome march.

Who was the parade march for?

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Of course not for anyone.

Because it is an unwritten law that it is only played with the Bavarian Prime Minister.

As a musician, did you come into contact with politicians at all?

no

You play while the guest gets off the plane, walks down the red carpet, signs the Golden Book and then goes on to the helicopter.

Seven years ago, however, the then US President Barack Obama shook hands with all those wearing traditional costumes who were standing in a row, which was not intended in the protocol.

So I took the chance, put my instrument aside and joined them.

There was no shakehands with his successor Joe Biden?

no

But you get more out of the environment.

From the intelligence agents or the snipers waiting to protect the heads of state when they land.

With Biden, the security fuss was definitely the biggest.

How does it feel when you play music in the focus of snipers?

You hide that as soon as you play.

I didn't feel threatened there.

However, Air Force One was so loud that we hardly heard anything from ourselves.

(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)

Did the state guests even have an ear for your music?

Yes, you can see that on videos too.

French President Emmanuel Macron, for example, stayed in front of the helicopter and listened to us until the play was over.

The Argentine was so enthusiastic that he even asked what kind of march we were playing.

But the best thing was the Indian, who arrived at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning, which is why we had to get up so early.

He stayed with us, rocked and clapped along.

He also posted a video on Facebook that has been clicked by hundreds of thousands of people.

What piece was that?

"My Homeland", a classic march.

In view of the time, we had to take something that everyone can play in their sleep.