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Struble and Oscar
Eric is a self-taught player of the Schwyzerörgeli, playing since 1992 when he bought his first Schwyzeroergeli almost by chance at Tempo Trend Music in Victoria. Don has been playing the Steirische Harmonika for more than 15 years, starting out in a button-box band in central California where he is from. The two met in the mid-'90s in Kimberley at the annual Kimberley International Old-Time Accordion Championships, and started playing duets together. Since then they have played at various Swiss festivals, Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, and have won numerous prizes at the Kimberley and Leavenworth, WA accordion competitions. Eric has also played with other BC Swiss musicians at various events in WA state, on the Island and on the Mainland including a Swiss TV production in Whistler. The other musicians on both CDs were drawn from Don's friends and from friends made at the Swiss festivals.
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Handorgelduo Struble/Oscar

Handharmonika~& Schwyzerorgeli~duo

Handorgel- and Schwyzeroergeliduo Struble-Oscar
Swiss Landlermusik

Swiss 'Ländlermusik':
In Switzerland, a Polka is called a 'Schottisch', and a Schottiche is a 'Polka'. Both are in 2/4 time, but the 'Polka' is slower than the 'Schottisch'. We don't know how this reversal originated, but we have seen it cause some confusion among Swiss entrants in North American old-time accordion competitions! A Ländler is a quick waltz. A Mazurka is a slower waltz that ends on the 2nd beat. (In other European countries, the Mazurka is also typically played with dotted notes in the melody.) A 'Stümpeli-Ländler' (or Stümpeli-Schottisch, etc.) is a simple 2-section tune traditionally played at the end of a set. The basic Swiss ensemble is two "Örgelis" with a bowed bass, to which other instruments can be added (or substituted). We hope you enjoy our rendition of some of our favourite Swiss classics.