The oldest mop orchestra in the Netherlands is having a party, and what a party! The Paporkest from Bergen op Zoom has been around for 9×11 years. “It sometimes creaks and squeaks here and there, but for an almost 100-year-old we still keep up the pace,” says drummer Marius van Nispen enthusiastically.
The pap orchestra is a household name during carnival in ‘t Krabbegat. “’Only when we have heard the pop orchestra has Lent begun.’ We hear that often and it naturally strokes our ego,” laughs Marius. “I think it is mainly the mutual fun that we radiate that appeals to people,” adds his sister and saxophonist Wies van Nispen.
“We are not so strict in the teaching. Above all, it should be fun and fun.”
The twelve musicians effortlessly rock the local repertoire during the weekly rehearsal in Don Camillo Bar on the Grote Markt. But the music of Frans Bauer and Gerard Joling, played in a medley, is also not taboo. “We are not that strict in teaching. Above all, it should be pleasant and fun. The innkeepers can certainly appreciate that.”
However, this was not always the case in the past. When the pap musicians made a musical excursion in the 1970s with Johnny Jordaan’s hit Sapperdiosia, they were pelted with snowballs as a joke by Lenten evening police officer Rens van Tilborg alias Skeketee. “Keep it Berregs!”, he shouted to the Pap Orchestra. Marius: “We didn’t care about it and we still play it,” he laughs.
The Paporkest was founded in 1925 by members of the Van Gent family from Bergen op Zoom. They played with two accordions and a small drum with which they went to the cafes. After the war, the company was expanded with musicians from the Van Nispen, Franken and Dauphin families.
In particular, drummer Jan van Nispen, alias ‘de Sjamp’, and the father of Marius and Wies, achieved great fame in ‘t Krabbegat and far beyond. On his 66th anniversary with the orchestra, he was even interviewed by the NOS Journaal. When the reporter asked him how he lasted so long, he replied, “that’s the hand of God.”
“I think what sets us apart is the fast pace.”
The typical fast drum beat introduced by Jan van Nispen was adopted by his son Marius. “That was instilled in me from a young age. More than a hundred mop orchestras are active in ‘t Krabbegat during the carnival and there are now very good quality bands among them. I think we distinguish ourselves with the high pace.”
On Sunday afternoon, January 21, the mop musicians will celebrate their anniversary during the ‘Pappe en Nat’ouwe Ball’ in Den Enghel theater. “Age is starting to bite us a bit, but we have no intention of stopping yet. We can even use musicians, especially clarinetists and saxophonists are more than welcome.”