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Mani Matter and Bernese dialect music
Description
Mani Matter (1936-1972) was the most famous dialect singer-songwriter from the canton of Bern. His songs are part of the popular music repertoire of German-speaking Switzerland, known among the general public and across virtually all generations. The catchy melodies and harmonies and the profound stories that the songs tell make singing along irresistible. "Eskimo", "Sidi Abdel Assar of El Hama" and other Mani Matter classics are sung in nurseries, in schools, on traditional spring walks and at family parties. His songs frequently appear in the repertoire of children's choirs, scout singers and school choirs and are even sung by male choirs and church choirs.
At the end of the 1960s, Mani Matter was a member of the "Bern Troubadours", a loose group of Bernese musicians which included Jacob Stickelberger and Fritz Widmer. Over the years many Swiss musicians, including Polo Hofer and Züri West, have been inspired by Mani Matter's songs and have covered them. Stephan Eicher made Mani Matter's song "Hemmige" so famous that French speakers at his concerts could sing along to the lyrics in Bernese dialect.
Image gallery
References and documentation
- Publications
Stephan Hammer: Mani Matter und die Liedermacher. Zum Begriff des «Liedermachers» und zu Matters Kunst des Autoren-Liedes. Bern, 2010
Mani Matter: Sudelhefte. Gümligen, 2003 (1973)
Mani Matter: Rumpelbuch. Gümligen, 2003 (1976)
Franz Hohler: Mani Matter. Ein Porträtband. Bernziger Verlag, Zürich-Köln 1977 (2001)
Christine Wirz: Mani Matter. Vom «Värslischmid», der ein Poet war. Stämpfli-Verlag, Bern, 2002
Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum (Ed.): Mani Matter 1936-1972 (Ausstellungskatalog). Bern, 2011
- Multimedia
Friedrich Kappeler: Mani Matter. Warum syt dir so truurig? (Dokumentarfilm). 2002
Mani Matter: Alls wo mir id Finger chunnt (Schallplatte). Gümligen, 1967
Mani Matter: Hemmige (Schallplatte). Gümligen, 1970
Mani Matter: I han en Uhr erfunde (Schallplatte). Gümligen, 1970
Mani Matter: Betrachtige über nes Sändwitsch (Schallplatte). Gümligen, 1972
Mani Matter: I han es Zündhölzli azündt (Schallplatte). Gümligen, 1975
Dynamit
Mani Matter: Ir Ysebahn
Lieder von Mani Matter wie «Dynamit» regen mit Witz zum Nachdenken an
Ref. Swiss National Sound Archives:
CD69 Tr. 4
- Documentation
- Mani Matter
Ausführliche Beschreibung Last modification: 28.05.2012
Size: 499 kb
Type: PDF
- Mani Matter