Schwabenkinder (Swabian Children) by 𝐹𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝑀𝑒𝒽𝓁 published on 2022-06-12T16:11:11Z Poverty The "Schwabengehen", which finds its first mentions already in the 16th and 17th century, experienced its peak in the 19th century. It is estimated that at that time five to six thousand children worked annually on farms abroad as herd boys, maids or as farmhands. The background to this was the extremely low soil yields in the alpine regions and the associated poverty, which drove parents to send one or more of their numerous children abroad. The Ways The ways from Tyrol and Vorarlberg or from Switzerland to Upper Swabia were long and arduous. For some of the children, most of whom were between 5 and 14 years old, it led over mountain passes such as the Arlberg, which were usually still covered in snow in March and which many had to overcome with poor shoes and scanty clothing. Usually their companion was an adult, sometimes a priest, who made sure along the way that the children could settle down to sleep in warm stables and who negotiated prices at the markets. The construction of the Arlberg railroad in 1884 made the journey easier for the Tyrolean children. The "children's markets" in Upper Swabia usually took place around Josephi (March 19). At Simon and Juda (end of October) or at the latest at Martini (November 11) they went back home. In the luggage were then the so-called "Doppelt Häs" (a double set of clothes from the headgear to the footwear) and, depending on the age and the negotiated price, a few guilders. The Hütekinder arrived at the port of Friedrichshafen by ship from Bregenz. Since 1891, the central market place for the Hütekinder was in Karlstraße in Friedrichshafen. The children who were not placed traveled by train to Ravensburg to be placed there. The work In their homeland, Swabian children were exempted from compulsory schooling every year, and in the Kingdom of Württemberg the compulsory schooling that had existed there since 1836 did not apply to foreign children. The politically repeatedly demanded extension of compulsory schooling was prevented until 1921 by an Upper Swabian farmers' lobby. Genre Classical Comment by Reply nice track 2023-07-17T18:59:15Z Comment by Ingo Bremenkamp 🫠🙃🙂 2023-02-02T14:21:36Z Comment by Robert John Brooks, Composer Excellent work, Frank. Terrific scoring. Simply perfect. 2022-09-02T19:06:44Z Comment by Robert John Brooks, Composer Lovely opening! 2022-09-02T19:01:51Z Comment by Liz Dicker Most beautiful Frank… 2022-09-02T18:53:20Z Comment by DAN - DT Salut Frank .... Il y a un certain temps que je ne suis venu t'écouter .... mais c'est avec toujours un grand plaisir que je découvre cette page musicale où ton empreinte talentueuse donne toute sa saveur .... Même si une certaine mélancolie pour ne pas dire tristesse (avec les instruments utilisés) donne un certain gout amer de ce passé que tu décris .... 2022-07-03T14:18:54Z Comment by BJÖRN CLOPPENBURG A really touching composition. 2022-06-18T22:13:21Z Comment by The Bird Inside What a beatiful theme. 2022-06-16T15:23:09Z Comment by Debra Buesking As I listen I am wondering if you set out to write for this particular scenario, or did you write the piece and afterwards assign the tragedy to it? I would find the latter easier. (Not that I could write this kind of music!) It's beautiful, Frank. 2022-06-16T15:15:50Z Comment by TSM Fascinating story and wonderful piece Frank! 2022-06-16T12:06:07Z Comment by Steve Coombes Wonderful and lyrical tune 👌 🎶. 2022-06-16T10:55:35Z Comment by Steve Matthews Thank you Frank. Poverty and forced labour is everywhere. A story musicians do but shouldn't have to tell. 🙌 2022-06-16T10:42:24Z Comment by TheGat(s) Beautiful cello sound and such a romantic melody 2022-06-16T07:16:05Z Comment by THE BOY Simply beautiful❣️ You are a real storyteller‼️ 2022-06-16T04:56:09Z Comment by Patros15 Epic 2022-06-15T12:43:38Z Comment by holgermorgenstern Awesome 🕊🌹👁💛 2022-06-15T00:10:39Z Comment by sonic structures and silent stretches Ja, Du hast klänge gefunden, die dem schweren Weg gerecht werden. Welch wunderschöne Sublimation! 2022-06-14T20:39:39Z Comment by Ludovic Roulin So beautiful and emotional! 2022-06-13T19:41:25Z Comment by SANDERS Poignant and beautiful Frank 2022-06-13T06:55:46Z Comment by Chris ZøBro This musical story is a miracle! 2022-06-12T20:06:52Z Comment by Amanda Kim Sanderson Beautiful, emotive, affecting piece! 2022-06-12T19:07:57Z