In 1973, at the age of 12, Karl Hartwich got his first concertina (a
Silberhorn) as a combination birthday and Christmas present. Karl's mom and
dad bought the Silberhorn from Christy Hengel (who manufactured the Hengel
Concertina) in New Ulm, Minnesota. Karl had never played a concertina before
he'd gotten the Silberhorn as a gift from his parents. During the seven hour
drive home to Orion, Illinois from New Ulm, Minnesota, Karl was teaching
himself how to play the concertina. By the time they reached their final
destination, Karl was playing two waltzes and a polka.
Six months later, Karl formed "Karl & The Country Dutchmen". The original
band started out with only three musicians, consisting of Karl's mom, Norma on
the tuba, Karl's schoolmate, Doug Ihlefeld on drums and Karl on concertina.
Three months later, Karl's sister, Holly took over on drums and another
classmate, Amy Sampson started on trumpet. Shortly after, Karl's sister Joyce
started playing piano and Karl's dad, Herb Hartwich did the announcing and
some singing. Within a two year span the band grew to six and sometimes a
seven-piece band.
Karl has owned six concertinas since he first started playing. The concertina
he currently uses is a Hengel that he has had for approximately 18 years.
Karl has played in at least 30 states, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, and in
1998 the band was chosen to represent the State of Wisconsin at the
Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. Karl and his band were also
filmed for two television specials (River of Song and Wisconsin Folks) in 1997
and 1998. Karl has also played for Garrison Keillor.
In the early years, Karl's dad drove the band from job to job since Karl was
too young to drive. All those miles have taken its toll on 1 truck and
camper, 3 cars, 4 vans, 3 buses, 1 motorhome, and 7 trailers. Karl has about
20 of his own original tunes. The most popular tune is his very own "Christmas
Toy Polka". Another favorite of the crowd is "Flasher on the Rhine". The
amazing thing about Karl is that he does not read music, nor does he write
music. Karl plays all of his music by ear. Karl has nine recordings
available on cassette tapes and compact discs. Some of his recordings are
still available on records. Karl has also played and recorded with several
other bands.
HISTORY OF THE BRUEGGEN FAMILY POLKA BANDS
The Brueggen Family is a rather generic term for the family of musicians who
live (or lived) in the Cashton, WI area. It all started with Herman Brueggen
who formed an "old time" orchestra by the name of Herman and the Jolly
Dutchmen. His descendants not only played in his orchestra, but started their
own groups as time went on. This website is dedicated to those musical
Brueggen's and to the music they play (or played). The website intends to
honor those people who had an influence on the Brueggen music style as well as
those who composed tunes that they play. Among them, but not limited to them,
are such bands as the Sylvester Liebl Orchestra and the Jerry Gilbertson
Orchestra, both being area bands, extremely popular at one time. The
Brueggen's not only played concertinas and other squeeze boxes, but they played
trumpet, bass horn, other instruments, and also sang the lyrics in both
English and German.
There are presently at least three "Brueggen" bands that are operating out of
the western Wisconsin area. All three bands play what is referred to in the
area as the "Dutchmen" style of Old Time music and that fact is reflected in
the names they have given to their orchestras. One is the "Gary Brueggen and
the Ridgeland Dutchmen", operating out of Cashton and Ontario, WI. Then there
is the "Brian Brueggen and the Mississippi Valley Dutchmen", operating out of
Cashton, WI. And don't forget that "distant cousin", "Karl Hartwich and The
Country Dutchmen", who used to operate out of wherever the band played its
last dance job. However, nowadays he lives in Trempealeau, WI. Their kinship
is reflected in the many pictures to follow. Also claiming kinship is the
squeezebox player, Kevin Liss, who plays for the "New Jolly Swiss Boys",
successor to Syl Liebl's band. Don't ask about the Jerry Gilbertson
connection. Jerry was Norwegian.
