Correspondence with Robert	Publications
- 20 Nov 2005 Dear Mrs. Jody! I received your answer on my e-mail with great excitement. Many thanks! First - I was born in Werschetz as "Robert Nikolaus" Rohr but use only "Robert."   As of 1952 I live in Munich.  My wife Grete is from Weisskirchen.  Both of us worked until 1984 in the education field.  At the end I was the principal of a specialty school and my Grete was a teacher also in a specialty school. In 1964 I organized the "Original-Donauschwaben" musical band with the "Danube-Duo" and was its leader for 20 years.  The conductors were Kornel Mayer from Karlsdorf and - after he died - Josef Schmalz from Glogowatz.   We produced 16 long playing records and a few single and EP records. I wrote about 110 texts for the songs for brass band, which have been published. In 1970 the brass band was for four weeks in America! Since 1960 I am working on Danube Swabian music research. Between 1960 and 1963 with the help of the "Danube Swabian Brass Band" of the Nikolaus Augustin Band from  Batsch-Sentiwan I produced six long records. In the summer of 1979 I published a teaching aid against "Legastine" (Lega and Steni, for children with reading and writing difficulties). As of 1988 I have published books, articles and poems. Here the other of my works, which were not on your list: -Josef Gung'l, the melodies of a forgotten composer, MC 1990 (as producer); -Späte Ernte (Poems) (The late Harvest) 1996; -Rezepte meiner Omi (My grandmother's recipes) put together by Grete Rohr, but written and published by myself; -Die Knabenkapellen der Donauschwaben (Danube Swabian Boys Bands) 1998; -Spätlese, Gedichte und Geschichten (Late Harvest poems and stories) 2002; -Rosen der Liebe (Roses of the Love) Text for brass songs, 2003; -Die Donauschwaben and Baden Würtemberg, the musical-cultural connections and get together, 2004; -The Danube-Duo presented "Unsere Lieder" (Our Songs), 2004 (CD and Accompanienment. -Besinnliche Stunden (Cosy hours) poems, 2005. You, dear Mrs. Jody, I have stumbled upon by inputting "Schilzonyi" on the computer. I was surprised just how many documentations you have presented.   As a present I am sending you my brochure "The Danube Swabian Boy's Bands" per snail post. After the brochure was printed in 1998 some new information were discovered, also some printing mistakes, which were fixed in the later versions. I have written about Nikolaus Schilzonyi not only in that brochure but in the book "Our musical inheritance" Volume I. Unfortunately there are only very few of my books still existing, as they have been published quite some time ago. In regards to Nikolaus Schilzonyi there is still a lot of mystery outstanding. As per my research the band leaders Nikolaus Schilzonyi and Michael Nussbaum were between 1893 and 1896 with a boys band in the USA (for three years). There is a photo taken in 1893 in San Francisco of the band leader Nussbaum with a trumpet in the hand - I am sending you a copy of it. In the Billed's newspaper "Heimatblatt 2004" on the page 71 is a photo of a boys band with the band leader Nussbaum (with the trumpet in his hand) and it stats that they were in 1889 in the USA. I have never heard about this tour. On the same photo is also a grown up person, standing in the middle of the last row. Wonder if it was Nikolaus Schilzonyi? Was the photo taken really before 1893 to 1896? Were both band leaders really already in 1889 on the tour??   The next extensive tour in the USA by Nikolaus Schilzonyi was with a boys band from 19th of May 1899 to 9th of March 1901. Not already in 1898. Two boys have written a diary, that is why we know this today for sure. Quite some time ago I have been presented by a granddaughter of one of those boys with the original colored poster "Schilzonyi and his famous Hungarian boys military band", which you also have on your WebPage. In the meantime I have donated it to the Donauschwäbischen Zentralmuseum in Ulm. Through you found information that Schilzonyi was in Philadelphia in 1905 with 24 boys; most likely he lived in other cities too. How long they have been there, is not known. Was "Karoly Keoskemeti" also a band leader? Who does remember him now? His place of birth is uncertain. There is a Szt Gyorgy in Banat next to Betschkerek and one in Baranya (in the Swabian Turkey). Which one is the right one? Two months ago I found on the Internet that Schilzonyi had in May 1907 with a boys band of 40 boys concerts twice daily in the amusement park "The Oaks" in Portland, Oregon. How long they were there, and if they performed at other places, I would love to find out. Under "Brass Band Reference-Vintage picture and photographs" and "Hungary" I found on the internet with young but also with older musicians the photo of the "Band Leader Schilzonyi"  In 1909 a photo with a trimmed beard around his face, which you too had on your pages for a short time. Never heard anything about that. I also do not think that Schilzonyi looks like himself in that photo. Can we find anything more about that? It is for sure that the band leader Schilzonyi achieved great success. Even so - from Billed is also the Band leader Lambert Steiner. For 60 years of his life did he train and establish boys bands and traveled with them on concert all over Europe, North America, South- and North Africa. As far as the musical history goes the achievements of those two men as homeland band leader are a special case. Dear Mrs. Jody, now I have told you quite a lot, but it is an obligation, which I love to do. Our Danube Swabians can rightly be proud of their cultural achievements. There is a mystery I still would love to solve: it looks like there was at least one of our boys bands, which has made records. It should be possible to found it out, but who, when, where and what? Would you know how to proceed to find such information in the USA on the Internet? That would be wonderful! May I ask from which place you are coming from? Warm greetings from my Grete and myself, Your Robert Email from Robert - dated 25 Nov 2005 Thanks for your email with your address!  I sent you today in the mail by post office: "Danube Swabian Boys Bands, 1998" and "On Long Way" (of 2002, my 80th birthday; both as gifts for you) and "Recipes of my Omi" (of 1995, a gift from my Grete to you).  In addition the following pictures: Kornel Mayer and his original Danube Swabian and the Danube duo / the original Danube Swabian with the Danube duo and Band Leader Josef Schmalz / Nikolaus Schilzonyi with one of its boy chapels in the Banat / Band Leader  Michael Nussbaum from Billed, 1893 in San Francisco / Band Leader Peter Stahl with its Stahl's volume in America,  Grete and I toast to your your well-being! Regarding the Band Leaders Kornel Mayer and Josef Schmalz during their America tour in 1970, you can find details in some copied newspaper articles, which I had written! I believe also, you mean that Peter Stahl was in the boys band with N. Schilzonyi.  However, his birth year is indicated in the American census as 1886, I investigated his birthday 4 May 1884 in Bogarosch! He was however nevertheless "our" Peter Stahl. In the time between the two world wars he published at least 80 shellac records.  Am I understanding, you said "Peter Stahl was the leader" of the volume marching Peter Stahl"! Nikolaus Schilzonyi (born to 25 Jan 1872 in Billed) married on 11 Feb 1899 in Billed to Antonia Bader (from Anina). They had a son Johann, which was born to 12 Jan 1905 in Billed and on 31 Jul 1915 he died there.  Theoretically it would be possible that Niklas J. Schilzongi (* 16 January 1901) and Elizabeth Schilzonyi (*10. Mar 1902) are the children of the Bandleader, as you indicate in "Tracking Nick down in the US."  But, the boys band left for the America tour on 19 May 1899 from the Banat and on 26 April 1901 and returned home to Bogarosch. From 13 January to 3 February 1901 the band resided in New York.  Two boys of the chapel wrote "diaries," but none mentioned the births of children to the Bandleaders and their wife's.  In 1902 neither Nikolaus Schilzonyi nor his wife were in America that we know of!  This problem with the two children Nicholas and Elizabeth is difficult to solve.  Mrs. Antonia Schilzonyi re-married 15 Nov 1916 (surely in Billed) to a Johann Schmidt.  Antonia died on 9 April 1933. I surely hope that you can read and understand my message, although with a "translator."  Also it makes me very happy that I came in contact with you!  Perhaps we can help each other mutually with our research.  For example: Bandleader Lambert Steiner (also from Billed) worked for 60 years with a boys band in Europe, America, as well as in Morocco and South Africa.  But I do not have documentation for him in America.  Perhaps you could find them on immigration lists, census or something? For today I send you cordial greetings, Robert	Unser klingendes Erbe, Beiträge zur Musikgeschichte. Von den Anfängen bis 1918,  1988.  Passavia Verlag Passau. (Our sounding inheritance / contributions to music history.  From the beginnings to 1918)     Unser klingendes Erbe Band II,  Aus dem Musikleben der Donauschwaben von 1918 bis zur Gegenwart, 1994.  Volume II) Chemnitzer Verlag, Zwickau.  (Our inheritance from the music life of the Danube Swabian from 1918 to the present) ISBN: 3926276207     Unser klingendes Erbe Band III, Zur Musikkultur der Donauschwaben / Ergänzungen & Nachträge zu Band I & II, 2001.  Volume III additions & Nachtraege of volume I and II) Verlag der Donauschwäbischen Kulturstiftung, München. (Our sounding inheritance to the music culture of the Danube Swabian)     Blasmusik der Donauschwaben in historischen Aufnahmen Donauschwäbische Kulturstiftung, München. (1910 - 1998) 1999 (Music of the Danube Swabian in historical photographs 1910-1998)  ISBN: 392627638X     Die Knabenkapellen der Donauschwaben, München 1998 Begleitheft Zu Einer Dokumentation (Danube Swabian Boys Bands)     Dem donauschwäbischen Musikforscher Robert Rohr zum 80. Geburtstag, 2005 Donauschwäbische Kulturstiftung, München (The Danube-Swabian music researcher Robert Rohr, 80th Birthday)     Rezepte meiner Omi (My grandmother's recipes) put together by Grete Rohr, written and published)         Späte Ernte, 1996 (Poems - The late Harvest)     Besinnliche Stunden, 2005 (Cosy hours) poems     Die Donauschwaben and Baden Würtemberg, 2004 (musical-cultural connections & get together)     The Danube-Duo presented "Unsere Lieder," 2004 (Our Songs) (CD & Accompanienment)     Rosen der Liebe, 2003 (Roses of the Love) Text for brass songs     Spätlese, Gedichte und Geschichten 2002 (Late Harvest poems and stories)     Bayern und seine Donauschwaben / Musikalisch- kulturelle Berührungspunkte und Gemeinsamkeiten,  Donauschwäbische Kulturstiftung, München, 1991 (Bavaria and its Danube Swabian musical cultural points of contact and things in common) ISBN: 3926276150, 176 pages     Josef Gung'l, the melodies of a forgotten composer, MC 1990 (as producer) Robert's email 20 NOV 2005 - in German: Robert Rohr Pachemstraße 1 a 81673 München Tel./Fax: (089) 43 44 34 E-Mail: robert.rohr@t-online.de Liebe Frau Jody! Ihre Antwort auf meine E-MAIL hat mich sehr gefreut. Herzlichen Dank! Zunächst – ich wurde am 4. August in Werschetz als "Robert Nikolaus" Rohr geboren, gebe aber immer nur „Robert“ an. Seit 1952 lebe ich in München. Meine Frau Grete stammt aus Weißkirchen. Wir beide waren bis 1984 im Schuldienst tätig. Zuletzt war ich Rektor einer Sonderschule, und meine Grete arbeitete als Lehrerin auch in einer Sonderschule. Ich hatte 1964 die Blaskapelle "Original-Donauschwaben" mit dem "Donau-Duo" gegründet und war 20 Jahre lang ihr Vorsitzender. Kapellmeister waren Kornel Mayer aus Karlsdorf und – als er starb – Josef Schmalz aus Glogowatz. Wir hatten 16 Langspiel-Schallplatten eingespielt und einige Single- und EP-Platten. Ich schrieb etwa 110 Texte für Blasmusiklieder, die aufgenommen wurden. 1970 war die Kapelle auch vier Wochen in Amerika!   Seit 1960 arbeite ich an der donauschwäbischen Musikforschung. Von 1960 bis 1963 hatte ich sechs kleine Langspielplatten „Donauschwäbische Blasmusik“ mit der Kapelle Nikolaus Augustin aus Batsch-Sentiwan in Eigenregie herausgeben. Im Sommer 1979 veröffentlichte ich ein Lehrmittel gegen die "Legasthenie":  "Lega und Steni" (Kinder mit Lese- und Schreibschwäche). Ab 1988 habe ich Bücher und Broschüren sowie auch Gedichte veröffentlicht. Hier zähle ich meine weiteren Veröffentlichungen auf, die Sie nicht in Ihrer Liste genannt haben: Josef Gung'l, Melodien eines vergessenen Komponisten, MC 1990 (als Herausgeber)/ Späte Ernte (Gedichte), 1996/ Rezepte meiner Omi, zusammengestellt von Grete Rohr (ich habe es geschrieben und herausgegeben)/ Die Knabenkapellen der Donauschwaben, 1998/ Spätlese, Gedichte und Geschichten, 2002/ Rosen der Liebe, Texte für Blasmusiklieder, 2003/ Die Donauschwaben und Baden-Württemberg, musikalisch-kulturelle Berührungspunkte und Gemeinsamkeiten, 2004/ Das Donau-Duo präsentiert „Unsere Lieder“, 2004 (CD und Begleitheft. Als Herausgeber)/ Besinnliche Stunden, Gedichte, 2005.   Ich schicke Ihnen – natürlich als Geschenk! – meine Broschüre „Die Knabenkapellen der Donauschwaben“ per Post zu! Nach dem Erscheinen dieser Broschüre 1998 sind viele neue Erkenntnisse dazu gekommen, auch manche Fehler, die inzwischen korrigiert wurden. Über Nikolaus Schilzonyi habe ich außer in der Broschüre auch im Buch „Unser klingendes Erbe“, Band I, berichtet. Leider gibt es von allen meinen Büchern nur mehr ganz wenig Exemplare, weil es schon lange her ist.   Bei Nikolaus Schilzonyi besteht viel Unklares, Problematisches. Nach meinen Forschungen waren die Kapellmeister Nikolaus Schilzonyi und Michael Nußbaum von 1893 bis 1896 mit einer Knabenkapelle in Amerika (also 3 Jahre lang)! Ein Foto zeigt Kapellmeister Nußbaum allein mit  einem Flügelhorn in der Hand von 1893 in San Francisco (Kopie schicke ich Ihnen). Im "Billeder Heimatblatt 2004“, Seite 71, ist eine Knabenkapelle, wo es heißt, daß Kapellmeister Nußbaum (vorn mit einem Flügelhorn in  der Hand) mit ihr 1889 in Amerika war. Von dieser Tournee habe ich bisher nie etwas gehört. Auf dem Bild steht aber in der Mitte der letzten Reihe auch ein erwachsener Mann – ob das nicht Nikolaus Schilzonyi war!? War es vielleicht erst von 1893 bis 1896? Oder – waren beide Kapellmeister tatsächlich auch schon 1889 auf Tournee!? Die nächste große Tournee war von Nikolaus Schilzonyi allein mit seiner Knabenkapelle vom 19. Mai 1899 bis 9. März 1901 in Amerika. Nicht schon 1898! Zwei Buben hatten ein "Tagebuch" geschrieben, so weiß man das heute ganz genau! Ein Original des großen Farbplakates "Schilzonyi an his famous Hungarian Boys' Military Band", welches auch bei Ihnen im Internet ist, hatte ich vor langer Zeit in Wien von der Enkelin eines Buben geschenkt bekommen. Ich habe es inzwischen dem „Donauschwäbischen Zentralmuseum“ in Ulm geschenkt! Erst von Ihnen habe ich erfahren, daß Schilzonyi 1905 mit 24 Buben in Philadelphia war, wahrscheinlich auch in anderen Städten. Wie lange, das ist auch noch nicht bekannt. War "Karoly Keoskemeti" auch Kapellmeister? Was weiß man noch von ihm? Sein Geburtsort „B Szt Gyorgy“ ist nicht klar – es gibt ein Banat St. Georgen (bei Betschkerek) und ein Baranja St. Georgen (in der „Schwäbischen Türkei“ in Ungarn)! Was ist richtig? – Auch interessiert mich Näheres von Herrn "Todor Krecu“ aus Werschetz, wie es bei Ihnen heißt! Was macht oder machte er?
Im Internet fand ich vor etwa zwei Monaten, daß Schilzonyi mit einer Knabenkapelle von 40 Buben im Vergnügungspark „THE OAKS“  in Portland/Oregon im May 1907 zweimal täglich konzertiert hatte! Wie lange, weiß ich nicht – und, wo er außerdem aufgetreten ist, würde ich auch noch gerne heraus finden! Im Internet fand ich unter „Brass Band Reference-Vintage picture and photographs“ unter „Hungaria“ mit jungen, aber schon erwachsenen Musikern und mit „Kapellmeister Schilzonyi“ von 1909 mit einem kurzen Bart um das Gesicht ein Foto, welches auch Sie für kurze Zeit im Internet hatten. Davon hatte ich nie etwas gehört. Auch glaube ich, daß sich hier Schilzonyi nicht ähnlich schaut. Kann man darüber vielleicht noch Konkretes finden!? Two months ago I found on the Internet that Schilzonyi had in May 1907 with a boys band of 40 boys concerts twice daily in the amusement park "The Oaks" in Portland/Oregon. How long they were there, and if they performed at other places, I would love to find out. Auf jeden Fall – die Leistung von Kapellmeister Schilzonyi sind einmalig groß. Und doch – aus Billed stammte auch Kapellmeister Lambert Steiner. Er hatte sogar 60 Jahre seines Lebens im Banat Knabenkapellen ausgebildet und war mit diesen in halb Europa, in Amerika sowie in Nord- und Südafrika auf Konzertreise! Musikgeschichtlich sind die Leistungen dieser beiden Männer und weiterer heimatlicher Kapellmeister ein Sonderfall! Liebe Frau Jody, jetzt habe ich Ihnen viel erzählt, aber es ist eine Arbeit, die ich sehr gerne mache. Unsere Donauschwaben dürfen stolz auf ihre kulturellen Leistungen sein! Ein großes Problem möchte ich noch gerne lösen – es gibt nämlich einige Hinweise, daß zumindest eine unserer Knabenkapellen auch Schellack-Schallplatten aufgenommen hatte! Das wäre doch möglich – aber wer, wann, wo und was? Wissen Sie Wege, wie man darüber im Internet in Amerika etwas finden könnte? Das wäre ein „Volltreffer“! Darf ich fragen, aus welchem Ort Sie kommen? Meine Grete und ich grüßen Sie herzlichst. Robert Rohr 25 Nov 2005 Liebe Frau Jody! Danke für Ihre eMail mit Ihrer Adresse! Ich habe heute eine Sendung per Post für Sie aufgegeben: „Die Knabenkapellen der Donauschwaben“ (von 1998), „Auf langem Wege“ (von 2002, zu meinem 80. Geburtstag; beide als Geschenke für Sie) und „Rezepte meiner Omi“ (von 1995, ein Geschenk von meiner Frau Grete an Sie). Außerdem folgende Bilder: Kornel Mayer und seine Original-Donauschwaben und dem Donau-Duo/ Die Original-Donauschwaben mit dem Donau-Duo und Kapellmeister Josef Schmalz/ Nikolaus Schilzonyi mit einer seiner Knabenkapellen im Banat/ Kapellmeister Michael Nußbaum aus Billed, 1893 in San Francisco/ Kapellmeister Peter Stahl mit seiner Stahl's Band in Amerika/ Grete und Robert Rohr trinken (auch) auf Ihr Wohl! Über die Kapellmeister Kornel Mayer und Josef Schmalz und die Amerika-Tournee 1970 können Sie Näheres in einigen kopierten Zeitungs-Artikeln finden, die ich geschrieben hatte! Ich glaube auch, so wie Sie meinen, daß Peter Stahl in der Knabenkapelle mit N. Schilzonyi dabei war. Allerdings, sein Geburtsjahr ist in der amerikanischen Liste mit 1886 angegeben, ich habe sein Geburtstag mit 4. Mai 1884 in Bogarosch recherchiert! Es war aber doch „unser“ Peter Stahl. In der Zeit zwischen den zwei Weltkriegen hat er mindestens 80 Schellack-Schallplatten veröffentlicht. Bitte schreiben Sie mir in englisch, was Sie mir mitgeteilt haben: „Peter Stahl war der Führer „des Bandes Marschieren Peter Stahl“! Nikolaus Schilzonyi (geboren am 25.01.1872 in Billed) hatte am 11.02.1899 in Billed Antonia Bader (aus Anina) geheiratet. Sie hatten einen Sohn Johann, der am 12.01.1905 in Billed geboren wurde und dort am 31.07.1915 gestorben ist. Theoretisch wäre es möglich, daß Niklas J. Schilzongi (* 16. Januar 1901) und Elizabeth Schilzonyi (* 10. Mar 1902) die Kinder des Kapellmeisters waren, wie es bei Ihnen in "Tracking Nick in the US" heißt. Aber, seine Knabenkapelle ist zur Amerika Tournee am 19. Mai 1899 vom Banat abgereist und ist am 26. April 1901 wieder zuhause in Bogarosch angekommen. Vom 13. Januar bis 3. Februar 1901 machte die Kapelle Rast in New York. Zwei Buben von der Kapelle haben „Tagebücher“ geschrieben, aber keiner hat hier die Geburt eines Kindes von der Frau des Kapellmeisters erwähnt. 1902 war weder Nikolaus Schilzonyi noch seine Frau in Amerika – oder wir wissen es nicht! Dieses Problem mit den beiden Kindern Nicholas und Elizasbeth ist schwer zu lösen. Frau Antonia Schilzonyi hatte am 15.11.1916 (sicherlich in Billed) einen Johann Schmidt geheiratet. Sie ist am 9. April 1933 gestorben. Ich hoffe gerne, daß Sie meine Post lesen und verstehen können, wenn auch mit einem „Translator“. Auch mich freut es sehr, daß ich mit Ihnen in Kontakt gekommen bin! Vielleicht können wir uns gegenseitig beim Forschen auch gegenseitig etwas helfen. Zum Beispiel: Kapellmeister Lambert Steiner war auch aus Billed und hatte 60 Jahre lang mit Knabenkapellen gearbeitet und in halb Europa, Amerika sowie in Marokko und Südafrika konzertiert. Aber – für Amerika habe ich keine Dokumentation. Könnte man vielleicht bei den „census“- oder „immigration“-Listen etwas finden? Für heute sende ich Ihnen herzliche Grüße Robert

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Tribute to Robert Nikolaus Rohr
Renown Danube Swabian Music Historian, Composer and Author
Born on August 4, 1922 in Werschetz, Banat & died on January 10, 2008, at 85 years old in München.

The following obituary appeared in the Banater Post on February 5, 2008 under the signature of Stephan-Heinrich Pollmann:  Music Researcher Robert Rohr Dies  His knowledge & advice were always in demand.       The well-known music researcher, Robert Rohr, died on January 10, 2008. He was 85 years old. Robert Nikolaus Rohr was born on August 4, 1922 in Werschetz. After completing elementary school, he graduated from the State Secondary School in Werschetz. He then attended the private German Teachers College in Neu-Werbass and Werschetz, and passed his first-level teaching examination in September 1941. He was teaching sports and biology in Werschetz and Weisskirchen until May 1942, when he was drafted into military service. He served first in the Seventh Mountain Division (7. Gebirgsjägerdivision) & later in the Eleventh Mechanized Infantry Division (11. Panzergrenadierdivision). On April 29, 1945, he was severely wounded in the battle for Berlin, and ended up in the emergency hospital of Ketzen on the Havel and in the County Hospital of Nauen, which was under Soviet administration. From July 1945 to May 1946, he was in the KLV Lager (students and teachers from the Banat) in Windbergand Mittenfels (Lower Bavaria). During this time he had to undergo two more operations as a consequence of his war wounds. Subsequently he worked as an unskilled labourer and shoemaker, until he found work again as teacher in various schools in Bavaria; he finally found a permanent position in 1955. In 1959 he qualified as a government-certified teacher of stenography and took a course in health science for the preparation of auxiliary teachers. Until 1984 he worked as Superintendent of Special Schools for Learning-Challenged Children in Munich. He enjoyed his work as a teacher, and he wrote the book Lega und Steni, in which he proposed an instruction system for the prevention and avoidance of weaknesses in spelling.      He was not only fully dedicated to his profession; he also dedicated himself to the concerns of his fellow Banaters and Danube Swabians. Since 1955 he advised them in jurical questions regarding pension law, and in 1959 he started his research on their music. He participated in and often initiated the establishment of many subsections of the Landsmannschaft der Donauschwaben in Munich. On January 3, 1963, he married Margarethe Weilinger, who also came from Weißkirchen.      From 1960 to 1963 he self-produced six records, and on February 28, 1964, he founded the Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle München, later renamed Original Donauschwaben. By founding this brass band, he ensured the revival of the Danube-Swabian music in Germany and the old tradition was continued. He was also the first Danube-Swabian author of texts for songs performed with brass band accompaniment. The many songs he penned will remain unforgettable for many of us. Remember Rosen der Liebe and Bei den Donauschwaben, to name just two. Altogether he produced with the Original Donauschwaben three singles, 15 LPs, and three EPs,  which brought back a little bit of Heimat to many Danube Swabians; they are listened to even today. There are numerous publications by Robert Rohr, both as teacher, and as musical chronicler of the Landsmannschaft der Donauschwaben. He took part in many radio and TV interviews and published more than 250 publications on the history of Danube-Swabian music. He published the book Bayern und seine Schwaben (Bavaria and its Swabians) in 1991 and Die Donauschwaben in Baden-Württemberg (The Danube- Swabians in Baden-Württemberg) in 2004. For an exhibition he organized on the subject of the Danube-Swabian boys’ bands, he published the companion book Die Knabenkapellen der Donauschwaben (The Boys’ Bands of the Danube Swabians). As another one of his hobbies, he wrote poems and stories, and published them in 2002 under the title Spätlese (Late Harvest) and in 2005 as a book entitled Besinnliche Stunden (Hours of Reflection).  His songs for brass band were published in 2002 under the title Rosen der Liebe (Roses of Love).. Not to be ignored are his three volumes Unser klingendes Erbe (Our Sounding Inheritance) an impressive documentation of the Danube-Swabian cultural heritage from its beginnings to the present. This work can rightly be considered as his masterpiece and will inform many future generations about the culture of the Danube Swabians. For many years, Robert Rohr maintained connections with various scientific institutions in Germany and throughout the world, such as the German Archives of Popular Songs in Freiburg. The three volumes of this work are not only about music, but also about theatre, opera, choirs, actors, etc. in the old homeland, so that the books will remain perennial reference works for succeeding generations.      It was upon his intiative that at the 1200-year celebration of the city of Neckarelz, a street was named for our homeland composer Silvester Herzog. Robert Rohr was particularly pleased when the Freundeskreis Donauschwäbische Blasmusik reported to him last year that that the city of Budaörs was honoring Silvester Herzog by a commemoration, an exhibition, and the publication of some of his music.      After it had become quiet around Danube-Swabian brass music and Mathias Loske and I were attempting its revival, we met with Robert Rohr and Heinrich Klein in Munich on April 18, 1998. It was decided to bring out a double CD with an accompanying booklet with the title Historic Recordings of Danube-Swabian Brass Music. The publisher was Robert Rohr. On that day, the Freundeskreis Donauschwäbische Blasmusik (Friends of Danube-Swabian Brass Music) was created on the initiative of Robert Rohr, and today has a membership of 14 brass bands. In 2000 Rohr published the CD Unsere Liede (Our Songs) with songs by the Donau-Duo. In 2001 he published another CD with a brochure entitled Späte Ernte, which contained a poem by Robert Rohr, put to music by Adam Scherer and sung by the Donau-Duo.      Many honors and decorations were bestowed on Robert Rohr for his work. In 1961 he received the Certificate and Golden Pin of the Association of Yugoslavia Germans (Bavarian Region); in 1974 the Certificate and Golden Pin of the Association of Danube Swabians (Federal Association); in 1987 the Medal of Honor of the Danube-Swabian Kulturpreis 1986 of Baden-Württemberg; 1989 the Merit Badge in Silver of the Association of Danube Swabians (Bavaria Association); in 1992 the Gold Medal of the Association of Danube Swabians (Bavaria Association); in 1993 an appreciation of his merits as honorary language teacher in the continuing education of teachers in Hungary; in 1995 the prize for Culture of the Cultural Community of all Danube Swabians in Traun (Lower Austria) and the Hungary-German prize for Culture of the Hungary-German Culture and Social Association; in 1999 the Honorary Certificate and Prinz-Eugene-Medal in Gold on the occasion of the 50-year anniversary of the Association of Danube Swabians (Bavarian Region); and in 2004 the Golden Merit Medal of the Association of Banat Swabians. Last year he received the Josef Gungl award from the Country Council of Hungary-German Choirs, Bands, and Dance Groups for his activities and his life work of research into Danube-Swabian brass music.      Just a few days before his death, he sought to establish contacts with the Country Forum of the Hungary-Germans. That this contact has been successfully established and a cooperation has been contemplated— I was no longer able to tell him.      Robert Rohr always felt good at the meetings of the Freundeskreis, and never shied away from undertaking the long trip from Munich with Heinrich Klein. He left his entire collection of musical notes to the Freundeskreis, after we secured a home for the collection at the Banat Culture and Documentation Center in Ulm, and the Association of Banat Swabians accepted the patronate over the archives. In the company of Robert Rohr we always felt happy, and many times he found a joke or a story to cheer up the participants, after the work was done.      His knowledge and advice were always in demand. For as long as I have known him, I have found him helpful and charming, and many times, in his friendly manner, he found a solution to the association’s problems. Personally, I will miss his knowledge and advice very much, as will many other countrymen, who always counted on him to answer their questions. He leaves behind a gaping hole that is unlikely to ever be filled. He will live on in our hearts, and the Freundeskreis will endeavor to carry on his work.          Translated by N. Tullius 2008/03/25 [Published at DVHH.org 26 Apr 2008 by Jody McKim Pharr]

The DVHH Remembers Robert Rohr by Jody McKim Robert Nikolaus Rohr, renown Danube Swabian Music Historian, Composer and Author, born on August 4, 1922 in Werschetz, Banat, died on January 10, 2008, at 85 years old in München, Germany. Robert discovered DVHH.org in 2005, after searching the internet and found our presentation on Nicholas Schilzonyi, a once popular Banat bandleader, whom we both shared an interest in. The mystery surrounding the death date and location of Schilzonyi, plagued both of us.   Robert was gracious and eager to impart to us his knowledge about Danube Swabian Musicians that he had researched for decades. To my surprise Robert sent me several of his published books, newspaper clips, and photos of DS musicians; and a special gift, -a copy of the cookbook his wife Grete published in 1995, "Rezepte meiner Omi."  Robert's contributions regarding DS musicians was very enlightening, and the DVHH has yet to published all that he provided to us. Last winter, in one of the last letters, he provided the details about the Gungl Prize that he had received from the Hungary-Germans. The same details about this prize are included in the obituary presented to the left. The photos he provided below are the medal he received; the certificate; and a short eulogy of Robert's merits.   More information about Robert Rohr & his books Robert will be missed!  DVHH.org extends our deepest condolences to Grete & the entire Rohr family.