The Aue-Bad Schlema Miners’ Brass Band combines music and mining history
When James Meyer came to the Ore Mountains ten years ago, the American-born man was amazed by the many candle arches in the windows during Advent and Christmas. „My home is brightly lit and colourful everywhere. In contrast, the warm lights in the windows here radiate a cosy atmosphere and a sense of security.“
The 29-year-old would never have dreamed back then that he would one day design the motif for a Schwibbogen himself. The artist and graphic designer plays the clarinet in the miners’ brass band, formerly the company orchestra of the SDAG Wismut uranium mining company. Here, he not only learned the notes of traditional music in the Ore Mountains, but also discovered the significance of light for miners. They spent their entire working hours underground in the dimly lit, dark ore tunnels.
The Schwibbogen with its candles became a symbol of the longing for light, which also has Christian symbolism as a sign of hope.
„‘I know how deeply rooted the Schwibbogen is in the mining history of the Ore Mountains. This makes me all the more proud that, as a foreigner, I was allowed to design the motif for our music association.’“
James Meyer, Clarinetist in the miners’ brass band
The motif by James Meyer, which the amateur musician designed in the evenings after work on a voluntary basis, was stamped out of metal by the machine and sheet metal construction company A. Schieck in Lauter-Bernsbach. The company, which has 50 employees, donated the first 50 units. They were further refined in Schwarzenberg by Andreas Haase in his workshop ‘Erzgebirgische Volkskunst’ (Erzgebirge Folk Art) – varnished, assembled and equipped with LED lights.
The result is a high-quality collaborative work that can be purchased not only by club members, but also by guests of our festival. For €179, you not only take home a piece of Erzgebirge tradition, but also support the voluntary work of the miners’ brass band. When musicians play at mountain parades or Christmas markets during Advent, it is not only the windows that shine, but also the hearts of visitors.