Title: Rindlisbacher collection
Inclusive Dates: 1928-1967

Creators:

• Rindlisbacher, Otto, 1895-1975

• Rindlisbacher, Iva Kundert, 1899-1981

Unique Identifier: MML027

Quantity:

• 1.75 Linear Feet
• 1 half document box, 1 archival flat box

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mills Music Library

Abstract:

Otto Rindlisbacher was a musician, fiddle maker, composer, hunter and tavern owner and musician of Swiss-German origin from Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The bulk of the collection is unpublished music, essays and poems by Rindlisbacher and his wife Iva.

Language: English .

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mus-mml027

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Organized into two series: I. Manuscripts, II. Media. Series I and II are further organized into subseries.

Otto Rindlisbacher (1895-1975) was a Swiss-American musician, instrument-maker, tavern owner, hunter, cheesemaker, and taxidermist from Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Otto grew up learning Swiss tunes on the fiddle, as well as the repertoire of other immigrant communities in Wisconsin. Beginning in the 1920s, he performed often with his wife Iva as an accordion duo, and made several recordings for Helvetia Records in Monroe, Wisconsin. He later recorded Swiss and Norwegian fiddle tunes for the Library of Congress. He also toured for several years with the Torstein Skarning troupe of Scandinavian entertainers.

Otto owned and operated the Buckhorn Tavern in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, a cafe and billiard parlour that also served as a museum for displaying his musical instruments and stuffed animals. He was an avid hunter, and wrote stories about his hunting exploits as a member of the "One-Shot Gang."

The original sound recordings in this collection are in a format that is not currently accessible. The Mills Music Library does not have playback equipment for 1/4" audio tape. Please consult Mills Music Library staff prior to access.

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

The music manuscripts and writings were originally collected by Bob Sundquist, Otto Rindlisbacher's grandson and were donated by him. The media content was transferred from other collections held by Mills Music Library.

The music manuscripts and writings were donated by Bob Sundquist, April 2020.

[Title of item], Rindlisbacher collection. Mills Music Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison

LeRoy Larson collection. Mills Music Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Includes photocopies of some of Otto's music manuscripts with annotations by Larson.

Robert Andresen collection. Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures. University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Helene Stratman-Thomas Collection. Mills Music Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Otto Rindlisbacher's stuffed animals and musical instruments are held by the Wisconsin State Historical Society.

The Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Archives holds a manuscript collection containing mostly photocopies of Otto and Iva's correspondence, scrapbook pages, and sheet music.

The collection contains music manuscripts, published music, unpublished essays and poems, photographs and sound recordings by Otto and Iva Rindlisbacher.

Series I includes music folios of fiddle tunes transcribed or composed by Otto; folios of old time tunes arranged for piano, two trumpets and saxophone; published folio "20 original reel, jigs and hornpipes by Otto Rindlisbacher" (1931); stories about the "One-Shot Gang"; hunting and lumberjack stories and poems; fiddle manual, "A good alternative for bowing and fingering exercises"; loose manuscripts of fiddle tunes and sketches; manuscripts of Hawaiian tunes arranged by Iva; published music by Otto and Iva; miscellaneous prose and poetry manuscripts by Otto and Iva.

Series II includes a small number of photographs of Otto and Iva, their group the Wisconsin Lumberjacks, and postcards promoting the Buckhorn Tavern, and a tavern brochure. The sound recordings consist of five audiotape reels of Otto performing Swiss and Norwegian tunes on Hardanger fiddle likely recorded in the 1950s.

Hardanger fiddleHardanger fiddle musicOld-time musicHawaiian guitar musicSwiss Americans -- WisconsinSound recordingsNotated musicMusical sketchesRice Lake (Wis.)

	Series: Series01_Papers
	Subseries: Subseries01_Music manuscripts
folder [89109112334]   1   folder 1	Fiddle music folios
folder [89109112334]   1   folder 2	Ensemble folios
folder [89109112318]   2   folder 1	Otto Rindlisbacher manuscripts
folder [89109112318]   2   folder 2	Iva Rindlisbacher manuscripts
	Subseries: Subseries02_Published music	⇧
folder [89109112334]   1   folder 3	20 original jigs, reels, hornpipes
folder [89109112318]   2   folder 3	Iva Rindlisbacher published music
	Subseries: Subseries01_Writings	⇧
folder [89109112334]   1   folder 4	One-Shot Gang
folder [89109112334]   1   folder 5	Otto Rindlisbacher writings
folder [89109112334]   1   folder 6	Iva Rindlisbacher writings
	Series: Series02_Media	⇧
folder [89109112334]   1   folder 7	Photographs and postcards
	Subseries: Sound recordings	⇧
Reel [89109112318]   2   reel 2	Index no. 1, Harding fela played by O.R. Physical Description: 1 tape recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 7 1/2 ips, 5 inches  : 1/4 inch tape
Reel [89109112318]   2   reel 1	Index no. 4, Harding fiddle played by O.R. Physical Description: 1 tape recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 7 1/2 ips, 5 inches  : 1/4 inch tape
Reel [89109112318]   2   reel 3	Index no. 5, Harding fela played by OR Physical Description: 1 tape recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 7 1/2 ips, 5 inches  : 1/4 inch tape
Reel [89109112318]   2   reel 4	20 original jigs & reels by Otto Rindlisbacher Physical Description: 1 tape recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 7 1/2 ips, 5 3/4 inches  : 1/4 inch tape
Reel [89109112318]   2   reel 5	Dubbed recording with announcements Physical Description: 1 tape recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 3 3/4 ips, 7 inches  : 1/4 inch tape  Other Descriptive Data: General Dubs of Index nos. 1, 4 and 5, and "20 original jigs & reels" with announcements possibly by Iva Rindlisbacher.