Experience Basel: Joining a Fasnacht Clique

Douglas Drake shares his first-hand experience of joining a Clique in Basel.

A Love of Music

I grew up playing trombone in the US and played in numerous marching bands as well as concert music through high school. I sold my favourite trombone, which I deeply regret, when I moved to Germany after college. It was a bit much for a kid with a backpack on his back to drag about, but I had always kept my trombone mouthpieces with me, just in case. 

Seeing Fasnacht when we moved to Basel, and the strolling Gugge bands awakened my memories. It was very much about the music, but also being part of something. A trombone is a very versatile instrument - it can sound like a Swiss alpine mountain horn, a truck air horn or a jazzy tune. I bought a new trombone, and it was like being a kid again. And like riding a bike, the playing and technique all came back quickly. 

A Gugge Band for Every Flavour

I then went shopping for a Gugge (or Clique) band. Güügele in Berner Swiss German means to drink (perhaps a bit too much), and Gugge bands are often dressed as Waggis or other exaggerated characters and play as loud and brashly as possible. Anyone who knows me, knows I was going to fit in - it was just a matter of where and when.

There are over 70 Cliques in and around Basel, so there is one for every flavour. There are families that are Cliques, there are women Cliques, bagpipe Cliques, there are Cliques dressed as rock stars, demons, gorillas, 17th century Basel aristocracy, jesters, harlequins, and French Alsace peasant farmers. Some Cliques are over 200 players, others are 20 and some are 5 or 6 or 10 players that will join with other small groups for Fasnacht. 

Joining and Training

After Fasnacht each year there are 3 Bummel Sundays in which Cliques stroll around Basel and play. It's like after the World Cup, sports teams shopping for free agency players. Bands walk around informally and play, showing off to look for new recruits. I approached a few but found a smaller group that looked like they could use trombone support and asked. They invited me to their kickoff meeting in May and I started joining weekly practices in their Keller. 

Many Gugge musicians are not trained and learn pieces by playing together. This gives each Gugge group a unique sound but requires lots of practice and dedication. Fasnacht itself is steeped in layers of tradition, old mixed with new, just like the architecture of Basel. Fasnacht itself is a mixture of older Pagan spring celebrations with Catholic pre-Lent Carnivals, but is unique in that it is not Catholic, as Basel has been protestant for over 600 years.

Each year the Cliques in the Kellers below ground open and emerge with spring. It is a time to parody, make jest, to make social and political commentary without reproach. Time to essentially clear out the old stale winter air and any hard feelings, allowing spring and warmth in, and for life to renew.  

Joining is a commitment and dedication but has and continues to be fun. I think my Clique was surprised how quickly I caught on and could march. Most were surprised that I can walk, talk, AND crew gum at the same time, however the 10,000 hours of practice in my youth meant that much is still engrained.

A Good Fit

I am proud to have been accepted into and part of LäGGerli-HaGGer . I have often been on the edge, never central to a group, a bit of a misfit blurring lines, an Außenseiter with a global view, but that is the role of Gugge in Fasnacht, to be the exaggerated, the loud, brash, inexact, and mismatched. They are the court jesters (Hofnarr), the wise fools questioning through jest, not marching in straight lines and to an exact beat as the drum and fife, but unruly and strewn about, like the blur of a slide trombone and Räppeli on the street.

Here I fit, nicht nur von Größe.

Douglas Drake

Douglas is a world citizen, jack of all trades and master of none. He has lived in 10 states in the US and that many countries including Switzerland. He is curious by nature, an avid reader, and can speak at length about anything. Professionally, Douglas has more than 30-year experience in the Life Science industry and most recently involved in real world data, global health and improving healthcare towards longevity. Central for Douglas is his family: his 2 daughters and wife. Douglas recently picked up a trombone after 40 years and joined a Basel Guggenmusik Clique and now is part of the Fasnacht noise and Räppeli.