These are members of Musikkapelle Huben, a traditional musical ensemble from the town of Längenfeld in Tirol, Austria. They traveled all the way to Rome carrying their brass and woodwind instruments to see the pope and share their music with him.
WERNER KLOTZ
Musikkapelle Huben
“We are a [musical group] with 80 people and a vocal choir with 40 people, so we are 120 people.”
Their traditional outfits, especially the hats, stood out among the crowd in Paul VI Hall. During the general audience, they got the pope smiling and the crowd clapping with their Tirolean marches.
They expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to visit Rome and perform in front of Pope Francis.
WERNER KLOTZ
Musician, Musikkapelle Huben
“This today was our highlight. We had an audience with the Papa, and this was great. We were in front of the audience and we played for him two, two marches, and it was perfect.”
The festive musicians topped off their visit with this typical Tirolean drink, even sharing it with strangers passing by St. Peter's Square. It was also a great way to stay warm in the low temperatures.
