In “Town Musicians of Bremen,” the animals scare away a band of robbers from a house.
The Grimm tale follows a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster whose owners have discarded them because they are old or no longer useful. The animals set off toward Bremen, hoping to become town musicians, but never reach the city.
At night, they see robbers gathered inside a house. By standing on one another and making a terrifying combined noise, they frighten the robbers away. The animals then settle in the house and enjoy a safe new home. The story is catalogued as ATU 130, “The Animals in Night Quarters.”
A common mix-up is assuming the animals perform in Bremen because of the title. In the Grimm plot, Bremen is their destination, not the scene of the adventure. The tale first appeared in the Brothers Grimm’s collection as KHM 27.