Mountain chapel Mühlbach

A place without a music band is like a day without sunshine! The Bergkapelle Mühlbach has an extensive chronicle, in which it is recorded that rehearsals took place around 1900 in the living room of Rupert Deutinger, a farmer. He was also the first leader of a farmer‘s music or miner‘s music, which has existed since 1908. In 1914, the company band was founded, which identified itself as the "Company Band of the Mitterberger Kupfer Aktiengesellschaft in Mühlbach near Bischofshofen.“ As of December 31, 1927, the musicians called themselves "Bergkapelle Mühlbach.“ The re-founding of the band took place after World War II.

The permission to wear the traditional miner‘s smock as a musician‘s uniform dates back to 1952. Already in 1954, musicians employed in mining were allowed to attend funerals during working hours. In 1959, Heinrich Singer became the conductor, with Josef Jetzbacher serving as chairman. It was their achievement that the music band could continue to exist after the closure of the mining operation in 1977. In 2021, a modern music home was mostly built in-house. Under the leadership of long-time chairman Leo Andexer Jr., the Bergkapelle is a fixed part of every village festival.

Kids

Miners' everyday life

In the past, miners worked in tunnels deep in the mountain. They had to work hard and wore simple clothing. Because of the hard labour, miners often didn't live past the age of 40.

It was dark in the tunnels and often there were only oil lamps to see by. It was very loud and very dangerous, but the job was still in demand because the pay was better than that of other jobs. A shift in the mine lasted eight hours and they worked from Monday to Saturday. They always worked in groups so that everyone could support each other. Their life was very strenuous and they didn't have much to eat. One of the miners' favourite dishes is "Muas". It is made from flour, water and salt and fried in fat.

Miners' everyday life

In the past, miners worked deep in the mountain, in narrow, dark tunnels. It was very hard work and they had to wear simple, robust clothing. The arse leather is protection for the buttocks and is still the distinguishing mark of miners today.

Due to the dangerous conditions, the miners often didn't live past the age of 40. It was pitch black in the tunnels and they only had small oil lamps to see by. It was noisy and dangerous, but the job was still popular because the pay was better than many other professions. A shift lasted eight hours and they worked from Monday to Saturday, with public holidays and Sundays off. The miners always had to work together as a team to help each other, especially with difficult or dangerous tasks. Their life was simple and strenuous, and they often didn't have much to eat. One dish they ate regularly was "muas", a simple meal made from flour, water and salt that was fried in fat.

Miners' everyday life

In the past, miners worked in dark, narrow tunnels deep in the mountain. Their work was extremely hard and dangerous, which is why they often didn't live past the age of 40. It was very hard work and they had to wear simple, robust clothing. One of the miners' distinguishing features was the "arse leather", which protected their buttocks from injuries and the rough work. It was pitch black in the tunnels and they only had small oil lamps to see by.

Despite the dangerous conditions, the profession was in demand because the pay was higher than in many other professions. The general working conditions were also better than in other professions, including financial support in the event of illness or accidents. A shift lasted eight hours and work was from Monday to Saturday. Miners had Sundays and public holidays off. The miners always had to work together as a team to help each other, especially with difficult or dangerous tasks. Their life was simple and strenuous, and they often didn't have much to eat. One dish they ate regularly was "muas", a simple meal made from flour, water and salt that was fried in fat.