With this idea in mind, a group of pioneers set out to establish the Fanfare Rollingergrund in 1946.

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Musicians and instruments had to be found – and, of course, a conductor as well. Before long, a group had come together. On 16 June 1946, 21 musicians took to the streets to perform the traditional Hämmelsmarsch, raising the first funds for the newly founded band.

The official founding meeting took place one month later, on 10 July 1946. The Rollingergrund band now had a solid foundation on which to build its future.

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Ever since, the Harmonie Rollingergrund, as it has been known since 1954, has remained true to a number of guiding principles: tradition and progress, continuity and development have never been seen as opposites.

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The first major step in its musical development was the transition from a brass band to a concert band. Woodwind instruments were added, not only increasing the number of musicians but, above all, enriching the ensemble with new tone colours and opening the door to a broader repertoire. One constant throughout this period was its first conductor, Mely Schumacher, who only stepped down once this important transition had been successfully completed.

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His successor, Jean Genson, placed particular emphasis on developing the next generation of musicians. He worked with young players before rehearsals and gradually introduced them into the main ensemble. As a result, young and old, beginners and experienced musicians did more than simply make music together at Harmonie Rollingergrund – together, they helped the association continue to grow. Jean Genson conducted Harmonie Rollingergrund for 23 years. Following his unexpected death, Gilbert Holzem took over. New ideas, a new repertoire and new ways of working followed. Young musicians were increasingly encouraged to take on responsibility, ultimately leading to the appointment of Roland Schiltz, a clarinettist from within the band’s own ranks, as its new conductor in 1992.

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None of these musical developments would have been possible without a dedicated committee working behind the scenes. With great commitment, its members ensured that the association also had the practical and financial resources it needed to thrive – supported by numerous volunteers and friends of Harmonie who have always been ready to lend a hand.

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Over the years, dances were organised and theatre productions staged. Later came Thé dansant, barbecues at Cactus, catering for the Tour de Luxembourg, a summer terrace festival, as well as herring and raclette evenings.

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Here, too, fresh ideas were often needed. In 1986, former members of Harmonie founded the Amicale, which continues to support the association to this day by providing a wide variety of equipment – from instruments and polo shirts to tents and refrigerators.

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Ivan Boumans and the current Musical Director, Uilson Castro, have also developed a steady stream of new projects aimed at advancing Harmonie Rollingergrund musically and continuing its development.

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Over the past 20 years in particular, Harmonie has become increasingly international. Today, rehearsals are multilingual – and music is the language everyone shares. It is a positive development, but one that also comes with a new challenge: attracting the next generation of young musicians.

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Yet Harmonie is not standing still. A Youth Orchestra has recently been created. It may still be in its early days, but one thing is certain: without the courage to start something new, even the longest tradition cannot be preserved for the future.