36 Years Ago

36 Years Ago, Vienna 1971—A Student Journal

Day 102: Can you hear me now?

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Vienna 1971—A Student Journal
A year of music, study, travel, sightseeing & friends.



Day 102 — Can you hear me now?
12-November-1971 (Fri.)


TRANSCRIPT

Electronic music day of classes.

Spoke with teacher Kaufmann—slight possibility that I might be able to work with film department if I wanted to do a project. Problem is that 16mm equipment and film is only used [rarely]—very expensive. Hope it works out.

Spoke with professor about practicing. Much to my surprise, he understood and very gently set up a time to meet with him to solve it.

In acoustics class, [we] did work with the oscilliscope—most fascinating thing about it would be the images and designs that the [sound] waves produced. Excellent idea for a film.

Cerha’s class. Well-known composer and director around here. He knows his stuff. Class is a little bit dry.

Night. Went to the place where some of the church music people were giving a birthday party. After the long day, it was nice to talk and have a drink.


REFLECTIONS

Electronic music day. A lot going on. Apparently, I am interested in doing a multi-media or film project, though the chance of that is minimal due to expense. Professor Cerha is certainly an accomplished composer. I am not certain why, but his class didn’t sound exciting. Talking about music and theory in German is certainly the issue. I probably didn’t understand, and thus didn’t get it. My fault, not his.

Science and music. We get involved with a bit a science, using an oscillator to view sound waveforms. The connection between science and music is readily apparent. Though it may not affect how a person writes music, it is nice to know how things work. As I’ve mentioned before, I used science and acoustics a great deal when teaching my electronic music classes to my middle school students.

Youth’s frustration. Remember yesterday, when I was so upset by the practice room situation? Today, a professor helps me to begin the process to resolve this. No big deal. Youth=impatience, emotion. As you get older, you generally learn patience and don’t get as emotional about such small matters.

A little party seems to end the day.

John

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