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Heribert Vogler from Uttrichshausen collected 5,000 euros for the “Little Heroes” last year – with Rhön folk songs on his YouTube channel.
Uttrichshausen – Music has always played a big role for the Vogler family from Uttrichshausen. “And I particularly like folk music,” says Heribert Vogler. By this the 71-year-old specifically means the Rhön songs, which he is one of Video channel on YouTube dedicated. He has been running it for eight years now, has 5,600 followers and has uploaded 800 videos so far, which have achieved a total of more than 8.6 million views.
Pensioner celebrates success on YouTube – with folk music from the Rhön
“I get a lot of reactions – not just from the region, but also from far beyond: for example from people from America who once lived here and are reminded of it through the music,” reports Vogler, who sees himself to a certain extent as an ambassador for the Rhön and its folk songs. A fellow singer from northern Germany accompanies him to performances at least three times a year.
Contrary to popular clichés, folk music is also quite popular among younger people. “They may not hear these songs in everyday life, but when we sing in the Rhön, there are also young people who have a songbook handed to them,” says Vogler.
Vogler has long been drawn to singing together, especially in the Bavarian Rhön. The fact that he mainly travels in Franconia is probably due to the fact that he enjoys working on the Maria Ehrenberg and therefore has many contacts beyond the country's borders.
Heribert Vogler donates YouTube revenue to a good cause
Vogler maintains a special connection to the Rhön Backpack Musicians, who once emerged from the Waldfenster Mountain Musicians. When the seven musicians play, whose performances the Uttrichshausen native also announces on his channel, he is there and films. He does not claim to have professional recordings. He's more interested in having fun with music and bringing joy to other people – and helping.
Around his 70th birthday two years ago, he came across the “Little Heroes” and decided that he wanted to help the sick children. He has also already considered the campaigns “Sternstunden” from Bavarian Radio and “Jonas Helps” from Bad Kissingen.
The Uttrichshausen native emphasizes that it is important that viewers watch the advertising preceding his videos until the end so that income is generated, which he donates entirely to a good cause. “I even know people who don’t like the music but who watch my videos until the end without sound to help,” says Vogler.
Music is played all year round, in winter for example in smaller restaurants. Now in the spring the bigger performances with the backpack musicians begin again, which will, among other things, play at the opening of this year's Catholic Day on May 13th in Würzburg. For Vogler, whose favorite songs include the Kreuzberglied, a great classic, there are again many opportunities to capture and disseminate Rhön folk music in images and sounds.
A group of musicians from the Fulda district have also dedicated themselves to the tradition of the Rhönlied – albeit in a new guise. They rewrote the folk song and used it to form the anthem for the Hesse Day in Fulda.
