With time comes possibly some new perspectives. Okay, maybe more than possibly. Some larger fascinations with Vienna start to emerge after just a few months in the Viennese culture. However, the little fascinations spoken about in this post continually shape my perspective. I love the little things, and the observation of them makes each moment feel more important and almost magical. However, with some more time surrounded in the culture, the little things start to funnel into larger fascinations.

When I first arrived, everything was new (well actually quite old…cough cough) and spectacular in its own regard. Besides the immediate perception of the architecture mainly preserved from the late 1800’s and before, there were some more nuanced points that I would notice. I would notice the costumed men selling tickets to Strauss and Mozart concerts, no matter the weather. I would notice in the first district, the green pedestrian light included two people holding hands and a heart above this.

I would also notice the Strauss and Mozart music played as ambiance in the public transportation, restaurants and bathrooms. Sometimes if you listened closely enough, you could hear music whistled in the air- or maybe that was just one of my roommates every time we walked to class together…

I also paid attention to the mannerisms of many people. For example, many men and women would get up for elderly men or women at all costs when there were no seats available. There was this incredible positive vibe (I know, I’m hip) that radiated in these kind acts. Luckily for me, Austrians were also very willing to speak German and struggle with me. This was possibly because I looked somewhat Austrian, and they would be confused if I did not speak German.  Nonetheless, I thought this was an act of kindness! I also noticed the practicality of many Austrians in the grocery stores. Many times, if I had one item, they would let me cut the line, or sometimes I could skip the line entirely if I had exact change in hand for one small item. Public service announcement: be mindful of the speed at which grocers check out the customers, because the next customer’s Müsli, Paradieser, or Wein might be thrown at you if you do not move quickly enough.  After a while, these small acts started to paint a larger picture of what made Vienna, “Vienna”.

The larger things such as interests, personalities, and mindsets started to emerge. The idea that Vienna was a musical city was apparent from the start; however, learning how the musical business ran, how to find quality concerts, and how many musicians lived and breathed in the Vienna air all confirmed this honest attribute of Vienna. Before coming to Vienna, I heard that Austrians were nicer than Germans in many ways. I found Austrians are nice people, but I’m sure this is not exclusive to Austrians; however, I did realize that many Austrians were nice in quiet, cute and flirtatious ways that I did not experience in my short time in Germany. With some of my Austrian friends and language partners, I started to understand the way in which they viewed school and careers and such. I noticed that many people were in no rush to graduate, with many students living at home, with full health insurance, and in affordable college programs (Oh America).

These are some of the many trends that I will continue to unravel in upcoming posts. With more and more evidence, I can try to understand how life works in the fascinating city of Vienna. I might be, and probably am wrong about all these things; With more and more evidence, my views will change and hopefully for the better in search of some form of truth. However, picking out these larger fascinations is a great thought experiment to understand my time in Vienna. Stay tuned for the next post that will unravel more about these meta-ideas. As my high-school literature teacher simply put, “Writing is Thinking”.

 

18:42 Finished dinner and a call with a friend. Looked at the time…cursed under my breath.

18:43 Looked down at my shirt. Thought to myself, “I should have a collar for the opera, but oh well”.

18:44 Walked out the door. Checked phone for any possible transit to get to the Theater an der Wien by 6:58. Closest transit would bring me to the opera at 7:03.

18:45 Picking up the walking pace, I looked to see how many kilometers-2.5…

18:45:05 I ran

18:46 I ran

18:49 Yep, still running then. Oh no, dead-end- I ran.

18:55 Okay getting close.

18:57 There it is!

18:58 “Haben Sie Reskarten?” I asked for student tickets at the ticket window. The cashier looks at my panting face and dripping nose. She hands me a tissue, as I glow unnaturally red in the face. She proceeds to slowly print out a 15 Euro student ticket.

18:59 Grabbed the ticket out the printer myself and ran. I threw my jacket, scarf and hat at the wardrobe. “I’ll tip you later!” I thought in my head.

18:59:30 I run up the stairs to the seat. Ooo, it’s a good seat. I hope I don’t smell… I sigh.

17:00 Carl Maria Von Weber’s Euryanthe begins at the Theater an der Wien.

Welcome to Vienna, a city where on average 10,000 classical concert-goers experience something that can only happen in this musical mecca. Although genres such as Jazz, Pop, Folk and others are obscure in Vienna’s entertainment industry, the classical music is alive and commercialized. I might have mixed feelings about the two billion-dollar industry of Mozart in Austria, but I do not have mixed feelings about the vitality of the music. Of course, as a classical musician myself, this is freakin’ awe-some.

On the special nights I decide to go to a concert, there are so many options. I have learned to have a plan B just in-case the first option doesn’t turn out. Just this last Tuesday after not getting a standing room ticket to the Staatsoper’s production of Die Zauberflöte, I was able to hop onto the U1 U-Bahn and go to the Kammeroper and watch Don Carlos. They sold me the ticket after the performance had started and snuck me into the theater during a small pause. They went above and beyond, but I duly thanked them for their effort! Only in this city, would they also care that the audience receives the best experience possible. Whether I am paying 3 Euro for a standing room ticket or buying a student ticket at the Konzerthaus for 12 Euro, I am treated the same as if I were a full-paying concertgoer. This all is an amazing feeling.

You might have wondered why that experience was described in detail. The concert described above, is just one of my many concert going experiences. Many times, whether tired, behind, or stressed, I would do anything including running one-and-a-half miles in about eleven minutes to go see this opera. I have very few pictures or articles of these amazing nights. The memories are in my ears and in my heart. I however, encourage you to come to Vienna and experience these experiences. If you ever need some great suggestions, just shoot me a message at David.m.gatchel@gmail.com.

 

 

This last week I went to my first European sporting event…ever. Growing up in just short of a sports fanatic family, this might be a surprise to them or anyone who knows us. However, that does not matter—I freakin saw my first fußball game- the Austria national team against the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team!

The game did not start at the advertised time 20:45, but really started at 7:00 in the morning in the streets of Vienna. Walking in the brisk morning air to German class, I saw scores of people dressed in blue and yellow scarves with beer in hands. This is when the game apparently started?? Escaping class and practice for a sandwich break at the local Billa grocery store, I heard chants in groups of fifty people with as much energy as I’ve ever seen. The craziest part of that morning was that blue and yellow is Bosnia and Herzegovina, not Austria! They mentioned there were protests in the city, but these groups of people seemed to be the bigger threat in the city!

I headed to the game at a conservative 19:15 to get there by about 20:00 and get in line. When my friends and I arrived, we were greeted by a brimming U-Bahn station with cheap beer and Bretzel stands lining the sidewalk. The atmosphere was incredible and definitely not the type of energy seen at an American Football game. After being yelled at in German for not folding my ticket to fit it in the ticket scanner, we were in! Once in the stands, we were basically in the Austrian national section, each seat equipped with the red and white flag to wave crazily.

Once the game started, some sections sat down, while the uber-Austria national section was standing, jumping and cheering the whole time just behind our goal. The game was exciting, not perfect soccer, but some great efforts and beauty in the process. Then without warning, the Bosnia fans started lighting fireworks in their side of the stadium. The first thought that raced to my mind was “Is this legal?” Soon there was a collection of fifteen or twenty flares and a cloud of smoke brewing. Okay… this is not America. To stop this insanity, which began at about the 15-minute mark, the announcer did not announce “this is illegal, please stop”. Instead, the announcer stated in German “Please stop creating the fires, we don’t want the players breathing in the smoke”. Apparently, the announcer knows how to approach these fans. Without complaining, the fans stop, and that was that… what?!?!

The rest of the game contained a couple of possible goals that were called back for offsides and such. The final score…0-0. Everyone clapped, and we raced to the U-Bahn station to escape. We barely crammed our bodies into the U-Bahn back home, and that was that.  I just saw my first European Fußball game. I went for the atmosphere, and boy did I get atmosphere. Who knows what the next “Spiel” will be like!

 

 

 

These weeks in the semester are rather crazy- first a parental visit which was wonderful, and midterms this week which keep me busier than I’ve been in a couple of years. For a new an interesting post I will share some of my favorite recordings that I have listened to recently on commutes and probably when I should be doing some more homework…

Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto Pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Conductor Celibidache
15 October 1992 TOKYO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JPIIorP47I&fbclid=IwAR3Xgl503IEEVM5zLfzmugvOISkurdmK30eGnJhlVMEAbzffpvjplFCkjdE

This performance was made just about six months before Arturo Beneditti Michelangeli’s last performance. Just listen, love and enjoy these two wonderful artists collaborating with the Munich Philharmonic. My first time listening, the first movement took me to thousands of worlds with all of the interesting ideas and beauty created at the piano and orchestra(especially piano).  I hope you find this magical- but only you can be the judge.

Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.4 Conductor Claudio Abbado Mezzo-Soprano Magdalena Kožená, Orchestra Lucerne Festival Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnfhInZLmUQ&t=228s

If you are or aren’t familiar with Mahler, it is time. Give it a warm embrace and enjoy. This piece contains so many ideas. From the roaring gypsy melodies, to dark episodes, to beautiful orchestral sounds. Somehow, they all collide in this amazing journey that lasts for just an hour of your precious time. Mahler is considered a staple of the Viennese literature, and living in Vienna now, I feel a real connection to this music with my “Spidey Sense”. Maybe I’m biased because this piece has such an amazing clarinet part, but you again be the judge.

Haydn Sonata in E minor Pianist Martin Hughes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLB_f8r-28I

Living in Vienna, I am finding a new appreciation for the Vienna Classics(Composers who worked and lived in Vienna from late 1700’s to 1850 or so) with all of their major magic, power, and beauty. Haydn just becomes more and more wonderful the more one studies him. Maybe that is true with many things in life, but for now just enjoy becoming familiar with Haydn. This is performed by my teacher here in Vienna- enjoy!

Billy Joel’s Vienna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZdiXvDU4P0

Continuing the streak of Vienna, here is an amazing piece with a powerful message of slowing down here in Vienna.  The main chorus “Vienna Waits for You?”, is a call for people to live their life, slow down and enjoy the moment. This idea is so strong in Vienna with the norm of sitting at a coffee shop and sipping coffee for hours. Just sit back, book your flight to Vienna, and come and experience this!

Jacob Collier’s version of Michael Jackson’s original “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC3GrzoQG9U

As some of my friends consider him the Mozart of the modern age, Jacob Collier is such a talented, creative genius. His music comes from a genuine place of curiosity, innovation and fun. There is something so honest about his playing, that although he is talented and plays with great virtuosity, I think it is not for show. Deep down, I know he truly loves the music which is so so so special. This man does not stop…

Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 62 “Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b33sX4m9nk

Music History classes sometimes brings to attention great pieces of music. Although this is popular, and although if you have heard a Bach Cantata, you have heard this one, this cantata is great for a reason. Studying this work in a historical perspective in my Music History 401a course, this piece contains drama, beauty, complexity and power all in one work. A fun fact that always surprises me is that Bach wrote one of these 20-30 minute long works almost every week for more than three years, amassing over 150 that have survived today. This is just incredible. But even more incredibly, this output did not affect the quality- enjoy! Update: visited the Bach museum in Leipzig, just so incredible- pictures below.

Comment below to let me know if you have any suggestions for my listening pleasure!

Two ideas have been circulating in my mind recently, and they very possibly could be linked, or I’m at the point in the semester when things are too crazy to have rational thought.

#1

A few weeks ago, my conducting teacher ranted about the best pedagogical path one should follow when attempting to teach someone a concept. He stated that we must teach people at the highest level possible, encouraging a sense of high intellectual self-esteem and eliminating the need to relearn things. For example (theoreticians, this is for you), analyzing a symphonic movement without the simple ABA’ label, and start to understand the exposition, development and recapitulation in finer detail to explain how one section is the result of what came before it. This in-depth look, he argued, then allows one to understand the work more thoroughly and with a heightened sense of curiosity.

In most approaches to teaching, one begins with the most general framework and then move in as abilities and knowledge increase. This is the logical framework as it makes sense in the stream of difficulty. However, along the way sometimes words need to be replaced as more precise terminology comes into play. Also mentioned before, a student might gain more confidence learning the more complicated version of the same concept because of knowledge. As taught in a psychology courseby Dr. Jeff Huber, Knowledge is the number one key to success as a coach and an athlete. Therefore, based on this, possibly starting with the complex can breed better results- this needs testing of course.

#2

The second idea is a little less arcane(whoopee) and deals with the idea of simplicity and complexity in language using. Arriving at a store here in Vienna, I sometimes do not know how to ask for what I need in German. However, instead of speaking a fluent English to them, what comes out is monosyllabic utterings with gestures to explain what I need. However, the awkward part of this whole situation is that they usually understand English quite well and the pointing and gesturing probably is ridiculous and unnecessary. It probably all boils down to perspective. In the United States, people speak one language with two or three being the exception. However here in the Vienna, people usually speak two languages, one including English. Most movies and entertainment are in English, so people and especially the younger generation speak fluent English.

Sometimes I make the ridiculous gestures and short phrases attempting to simplify, but in actuality I could maintain most the complexity with complete comprehension on the other side. I’m sure others have had this problem when in a foreign country-whether it be out of embarrassment for not knowing the language or trying to communicate in the clearest manner. Sometimes, especially in this case, speaking in fluent English and complete sentences probably is more useful than using the short phrases. You see the connection now? Anyways, enough thoughts and more practicing and studying. Ciao!