Comedian Harmonists

Resource id #76

Comedian Harmonists

The Comedian Harmonists were an internationally famous, all-male German close harmony ensemble that performed between 1928 and 1934 as one of the most successful musical groups in Europe before World War II. The group consisted of Harry Frommermann (tenor buffo), Asparuh "Ari" Leschnikoff (first tenor), Erich A. Collin (second tenor), Roman Cycowski (baritone), Robert Biberti (bass), and Erwin Bootz (pianist). The hallmark of the Comedian Harmonists was its members' ability to blend their voices together so that the individual singers could appear and disappear back into the vocal texture. Its repertoire was wide, ranging from the folk and classical songs arranged by Frommermann to appealing and witty popular songs of the day by writers such as Peter Igelhoff, Werner R. Heymann and Paul Abraham.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1927, Died Ceased 1935

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: Vocal group, arranger

Notes: German close harmony vocal quintet and pianist formed in 1927 and disbanded around 1934, due to Nazi bias against Jewish members of the group. Three singers left Germany and united with new members to form a successor ensemble, also called Comedian Harmonists or Comedy Harmonists. See "Das Meistersextett" for recordings made by a successor group formed by original members remaining in Germany and new members.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Gramophone	0D489	10-in.	8/14/1931	Das ist die Liebe der Matrosen	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0D490	10-in.	8/14/1931	Wenn der Wind weht über das Meer	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0D1093	10-in.	9/12/1932	Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet	Vocal group
Gramophone	0D1094	10-in.	9/12/1932	Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet	Vocal group
Gramophone	0D1512	10-in.	5/11/1933	Kleiner Mann, was nun?	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet. with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0D1513	10-in.	5/11/1933	Was Dein roter Mund im Frühling sagt	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet. with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0N1759	10-in.	10/5/1933	So ein Kuss kommt von allein	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0D2060	10-in.	4/19/1934	Mein Herz ruft immer nur nach Dir	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA2152	10-in.	6/28/1937	Wenn Matrosen mal an Land gehen	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal ensemble, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA2273	10-in.	9/15/1937	Die Juliska aus Budapest	Comedian Harmonists ; Meistersextett	Male vocal ensemble, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA2929	10-in.	5/12/1938	Muss i' denn, muss i' denn zum Städtelein hinaus	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal ensemble	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA2930	10-in.	5/12/1938	Am Brunnen vor dem Tore	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal ensemble	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA2970	10-in.	5/23/1938	Perpetuum Mobile	Meistersextett	Male vocal ensemble, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA2971	10-in.	5/23/1938	Ungarischer Tanz no. 5	Meistersextett	Male vocal ensemble, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA3438	10-in.	1938	Amapola	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal ensemble	Vocal group
Gramophone	0RA-3439	10-in.	12/31/1938	Donkey serenade	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal ensemble	Vocal group
Gramophone	BLR6108	10-in.	2/26/1930	Du armes Girl vom Chor	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet, with piano	Vocal group
Gramophone	BLR6109	10-in.	2/26/1930	Bin kein Hauptmann, bin kein grosses Tier	Comedian Harmonists	Male vocal quintet, with piano	Vocal group
Columbia (U.K.)	CL5462	10-in.	9/29/1935	Sous le ciel d'Afrique	Josephine Baker ; Comedian Harmonists	Female vocal solo, with male vocal ensemble and piano	Vocal group, arranger
Columbia (U.K.)	CL5463	10-in.	between 9/26/1935 and 12/2/1935	Espabilate	Josephine Baker	Female vocal solo, with orchestra, piano, and male vocal ensemble	Vocal group, arranger

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Comedian Harmonists," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105637.

Comedian Harmonists. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105637.

"Comedian Harmonists." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.