Why are they called Schrage Musik?

[shortguy54]

Hi Stephan,

On the one Hand, "schräge Musik" was the contemporary German slang word for jazz. In colloquial German, "schräg" can mean anything queer, odd, or out of the ordinary, especially in a positive sense.

The proper meaning of "schräg" however is "slanted". And as others on this forum have already noted, the installation involved two 20mm cannon fixed to point diagonally upward and forward.

And when you consider that today soldiers will sometimes say "rock and roll" to refer to heavy firing the image is complete.

So basically, the term "schräge Musik" is a play on words and can't really be adequately translated.

[sirbob]

I was under the impression that 'Schrage Musik' was a slang term for jazz originating in the way that jazz, and especially the swing music of the period, was played. That is not in 4/4 time as written but with a lilting rhythm, and with the 'feel' varied by improvised lengthened or shortened individual notes. In other words it is not played 'straight' but 'slanting'
Slanting music, slanting guns.