Only then did the hand organ begin to establish itself in semi-professional dance music bands. This made it possible to substitute other instruments such as the violin and trumpet, allowing for smaller, easier to coordinate, and less expensive instrumentation.
Which, in turn, allowed to play faster, which was also practised in the old repertoire from the 19th century. This was expressed in particular at the national exhibition of in Zurich.
During World War II, moreover, there was little foreign competition. The example of Heiri Meier shows how strongly individual musicians from central Switzerland shaped the development of this actually urban form of folk music. The clarinettist, who was originally from Lucerne, had discovered newer styles such as Schlager and jazz or swing in Zurich in the s β and was inspired by them, certainly in the sense of adapting to the current taste of the public.
Like most of the musicians who set the style in Zurich, he came from central Switzerland, more precisely from Wollerau, canton Schwyz. Like most people who chose the rural exodus, the clarinettist sought a better income in the city, where he encountered great interest in rural culture. That is why Stocker Sepp soon gave up his traditional profession as a printer and typesetter and became a professional musician. It is therefore not surprising that the journalist Kurt Zurfluh also describes Stocker Sepp as a busy organizer and marketer.
Around he is said to have been engaged several times with his band for week-long performances in Paris and London, where he also had his music recorded. He did this since , having recognized early on the importance of the emerging recording industry; by , he is said to have recorded and successfully sold over musical pieces on record. In a survey of the best-known musicians in Zurich and the surrounding area, Stocker Sepp is said to have received 93, votes according to the evaluation of the ,!
