The Sathrum Family and the Hahnenkamm Fanfare
The Hahnenkamm Fanfare was (finally) re-recorded in November, under the careful direction of brothers Benjamin and Bill Sathrum. It was composed by their grandfather, Sepp Gasteiger.
No melody has echoed more often through the history of the Kitzbühel races than the Hahnenkamm Fanfare. Composed by the much-loved former bandmaster of Kitzbühel’s town band, Sepp Gasteiger, and first performed on 6 December 1979, it is traditionally played before the start and again before the prize-giving, lending these historic sporting moments an appropriately musical gravitas. The town band’s chronicle notes: “The Hahnenkamm Fanfare is dedicated to the Kitzbühel Ski Club and is directly linked to the Hahnenkamm and to the town’s sporting and cultural identity.” Yet despite its long and illustrious history, for many years there was only a single recording of the Hahnenkamm Fanfare, captured on vinyl in 1981 by the Kitzbühel town band.
Between 2014 and 2016, the melody was performed live during Hahnenkamm Week by a brass ensemble led by Benjamin Sathrum, Sepp’s grandson. By then, at the very latest, OK chairman Michael Huber had fallen for its sound all over again. Last autumn, thanks to his initiative – and with the backing of brothers Benjamin and Bill – a newly arranged version was finally recorded under truly professional conditions.
To that end, everyone gathered at the beginning of November in the rehearsal rooms of the Kitzbühel town band, opened only in 2019 and equipped with every conceivable amenity. Benjamin Sathrum, who has been the bandmaster since 2024, brought in “his” Goldbrass Quintet from Salzburg, while music producer Bill took charge of the sound recording. The quintet consisted of two trumpets, a tuba, a horn and a trombone, and – as an additional “guest” – a drum kit: “Because a fanfare needs a bit of oomph”, as Benjamin puts it.
The Kitzbühel native Benjamin, like his brother Bill, grew up at the Hohenegger Hof, right by the Ganslern course. Looking back on the 2025 Hahnenkamm Races, he recalls: “On slalom day, Michael Huber always pops round for a slice or two of Kloatznbrot (fruit bread), and last year is when we decided to re-record the fanfare.” For the new version, Benjamin reworked his grandfather Sepp’s original score: “My grandad was always a role model – he was bandmaster for many years too. Being able to arrange and perform his works is one of the nicest things I get to do as a musician.”
The Hahnenkamm Fanfare is characterised by its simplicity, yet full character – from the minor chord at the start to the walking bass line carried by trombone and tuba in the second section.
The recording sessions lasted two days, which may seem rather long for a melody of barely 30 seconds. In addition to the Hahnenkamm Fanfare, the Sathrum brothers and the Goldbrass Quintet also recorded Austria’s national anthem, the Tyrolean anthem, and the Jubilee Fanfare. The latter was composed by Benjamin in 2015 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Hahnenkamm Races.
An audio sample of the fanfare is available here.
Photo © K.S.C./alpinguin, Benjamin Sathrum
