<< zurück


Johann & Josef Schrammel

Johann (1850-1893)

Josef (1852-1895)

Johann and Josef Schrammel, violinist brothers from northwestern Austria, came to Vienna as performers. In 1878 the Schrammels formed an ensemble with guitarist Anton Strohmayer, who accompanied the two violins on a double-necked contra-guitar. Inspired by both urbane and rustic traditions, the three musicians performed folk songs, marches, and dance music, most often for audiences at wine taverns (Heurigen) and inns.

In 1884 clarinetist Georg Dänzer joined the group, which soon enjoyed phenomenal success under the name "Schrammel Brothers Specialities Quartet" (Specialitäten Quartett Gebrüder Schrammel). The ensemble was invited to perform in palaces and mansions as "Schrammel euphoria" gripped the Viennese elite. So great was the Schrammel brothers' popularity that some earlier folk music forms, such as the Wienerlied dialect song, came to be known as Schrammelmusik as well.

The Schrammels composed more than 200 songs and music pieces in just seven years. Johann Schrammel died in 1893, followed two years later by Josef. Each brother was 43 years old at his death.