36 Years Ago

36 Years Ago, Vienna 1971—A Student Journal

Day 351: John Cage—HPSCHD

Day 351 — John Cage—HPSCHD
18-Jul-1972 (Tue.)

John Cage and David Tudor
Today is the big “happening” of the avant-garde music festival, the multimedia experience of HPSCHD by John Cage in Philharmonic Hall. It was an amazing experience (despite my slight criticism.) A fascinating lecture by computer music composer, John Chowning.
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Day 350: Berlin, spending money

Day 350 — Berlin, spending money
17-Jul-1972 (Mon.)

Berlin expenses 01
A light day of activity in Berlin. I use this opportunity to give the details of some of my money spending in Berlin taken from my “finance journal.” It’s interesting.
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Day 349: Swimming at Wannsee

Day 349 — Swimming at Wannsee
16-Jul-1972 (Sun.)

Berlin loves modern architecture
Today is a day of relaxation and getting sun burnt on the Wannsee. Swimming, nudity, architecture, it’s all part of today’s discussion. I don’t have any pictures of the Wannsee or of nudity.
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Day 346: Avant-garde 3

Day 346 — Avant-garde 3
13-Jul-1972 (Thur.)

Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche
I am immersed in avant-garde music—day and night—at the continuing music festival in Berlin. At night, it’s Steve Reich and modern dance. During the afternoon break, I’m at the museum of the Berlin Wall.
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Day 345: Avant-garde music, my thoughts

Day 345 — Avant-garde music, my thoughts
12-Jul-1972 (Wed.)

First sight of the Berlin Wall
It’s a big day of much avant-garde music and art. I hear a lot of music today and am a bit critical of things sounding “typical.” That’s typical, of me. The Berlin girls are chic (and bra-less). Berlin is a town for young people.
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Day 344: John Cage, avant-garde festival

Day 344 — John Cage, avant-garde festival
11-Jul-1972 (Tue.)

Avant-garde music festival at the Akadamie der Kunste
I’m in Berlin (West). I spend the day sightseeing and getting ready to go to a series of avant-garde music concerts by John Cage. I talk a lot about John Cage and chance music. Lot’s of photos.
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Day 342: Chopin and Dolly

Day 342 — Chopin and Dolly
09-Jul-1972 (Sun.)

Warsaw Old Town Square
My last day in Warsaw is filled with stuff to do. Walks, palace grounds and park areas, concerts—Chopin, men’s choir—and a Polish version of Hello Dolly. Plenty of pictures. On one hand I say Warsaw is drab, on the other hand, it’s beautiful.
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Day 323: Horn recital and goodbye and hello to friends

Day 323 — Horn recital and goodbye and hello to friends
20-Jun-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

Today is a big day. My horn class recital and saying goodbye to my friends and teachers in both my horn and electronic music studies. What a wonderful year!

2009 brings in a surprise—Ragtime.
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Day 321: Music to relax by

Day 321 — Music to relax by
18-Jun-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

An opera puts me in a better mood. Today, I say I’m relaxed.
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Day 319: Winding down

Day 319 — Winding down
16-Jun-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

Giusippe Verdi Wikipedia
It looks like I’m winding down to the end of the school semester. What’s next? I don’t know. We have to wait to see what the journal reveals.
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Day 318: Der Freischütz, again

Day 318 — Der Freischütz, again
15-Jun-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Der Freischütz for the third time.
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Day 314: Horn quartet in church

Day 314 — Horn quartet in church
11-Jun-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

Schonbrunn Palace 01
I play in a horn quartet today in Prof. Gabler’s church then take a walk through Schönbrunn.
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Day 310: World premiere—Fantasy on Broken Glass

Day 310 — World premiere—Fantasy on Broken Glass
07-Jun-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

Fantasy concert program
I make a last-minute, desperate attempt to remix my Fantasy composition for tonight’s world premiere. Do I make it? Does the audience like it? Do I need to drink my sorrows into the ground?
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Day 307: Beautiful Sundays

Day 307 — Beautiful Sundays
04-Jun-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

Vienna has a ton of beautiful Sundays in the spring. It brings everyone to the parks. I am trying to figure out my summer plans. What to do?
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Day 306: National Hungarian Symphony

Day 306 — National Hungarian Symphony
03-Jun-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

It’s the Hungarian National Symphony at night. I love em. I talk about their style of horn playing.
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Day 303: Live Kaufmann

Day 303 — Live Kaufmann
31-May-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

My professor, composer Dieter Kaufmann, presents a very interesting “live” musical piece that he wrote based on live manipulation of a soprano voice. I liked it.
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Day 302: Shostakovich

Day 302 — Shostakovich
30-May-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

A light day. Shostakovich’s
Symphony No. 1 enlightens me.
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Day 300: Big music day at Mai Fest

Day 300 — Big music day at Mai Fest
28-May-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

Gundula Janowitz
Vienna, the city of music, lives up to its name today—the Vienna Boys’ Choir, Mozart with the Vienna Philharmonic, Böhm conducting and Gundula Janowitz singing Weber’s Der Freischütz are all on the menu. Wow!

This is 300 days of blogging today. Come on Google, you say content is king. Give me a #1 ranking. (I used to be in the top 3 for a short while.) That said, we do use Google as a time machine to travel back to some of today’s concerts.
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Day 299: New music from Prof. Kaufmann; Mai Fest

Day 299 — New music from Prof. Kaufmann; Mai Fest
27-May-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

Vienna park and Rathaus at night
A full day. Lots of things. Significant is that composer Dieter Kaufmann is beginning work on a new musique concrète composition. Mai Fest is also beginning.
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Day 296: Opera’s expression

Day 296 — Opera’s expression
24-May-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

A light day. Just a short discourse on opera’s use of dialog to communicate the story.
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Day 295: Angelo Badalamenti and Twin Peaks

Day 295 —Angelo Badalamenti and Twin Peaks
23-May-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

A regular day. I feel good about helping some American tourists. In 2009, I take a lazy day and talk about the coincidences of a
Twin Peaks rerun that I happen to see on TV and composer Angelo Badalamenti.

Oh! NJ is closed for business. House prices are way too high. No one can buy a house. Rents are high and ever rising. Time to leave?
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Day 294: A holiday with Hesse

Day 294 — A holiday with Hesse
22-May-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

A day mostly about Hermann Hesse, the author. I really seem to connect to his writing and philosophies. Time to read him again. I’m waxing philosophical today.
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Day 293: A lazy day with the Meistersinger

Day 293 — A lazy day with the Meistersinger
21-May-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

A well-deserved lazy day ending with Wagner’s
Der Meistersinger.
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Day 292: My fingers are on TV

Day 292 — My fingers are on TV
20-May-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

Today is mostly about my being on Austrian TV for a whole two seconds. The TV documentary about the Electronic Music Studio is finally on TV.
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Day 291: Opera, electronic music, computer music

Day 291 — Opera, electronic music, computer music
19-May-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

Today, I talk a bit about my growing interest in the emerging fields of computer music and electronic music, and some of my follow-up study and teachers in the genre. I add a couple of thoughts on operatic vs. orchestral climaxes, including Paul Pott and Puccini.
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Day 289: Richard Strauss day

Day 289 — Richard Strauss day
17-May-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

A day of Richard Strauss at the opera and in a student performance. Problems with the electronic studio equipment leads me to ponder the absence of problems with newly-emerging synthesizers.
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Day 288: Very enjoyable

Day 288 — Very enjoyable
16-May-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

What can I say? Another opera is “very enjoyable.”
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Day 287: Contemporary ballet and OSU

Day 287 — Contemporary ballet and OSU
15-May-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

I speak today to contemporary ballet and modern dance and relate to a modern dance/music composition that I wrote while a student at The Ohio State University. The composition was a musique concrète/electronic work titled, “Ruth,” based on the Book of Ruth from the Old Testament.
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Day 285: Amazing teachers, amazing friends

Day 285 — Amazing teachers, amazing friends
13-May-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

I take a seemingly slow journal day and turn it around into a post about amazing teachers, friends (Mike), melodies, hooks, DJs, and trance. Intriguing. Now you’re “hooked,” right? You have to read this post. I have hypnotized you into a trance. Read…read…read…
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Day 283: Birgit as Isolde

Day 283 — Birgit as Isolde
11-May-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Birgit Nilsson as Isolde
A look and listen at Birgit Nilsson as Isolde in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.
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Day 280: Time travel with YouTube—Mahler 4

Day 280 — Time travel with YouTube—Mahler 4
08-May-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

Bernstein Mahler 4
The real Mahler 4 concert at night. We enter a time-vortex through the magic of YouTube and see two videos from this same concert—36 years ago. Yes, I was there.
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Day 279: Bernstein & Beethoven

Day 279 — Bernstein & Beethoven
07-May-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

A Mahler symphony and Beethoven opera are on today’s venue, along with a YouTube video. Nice.
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Day 278: Old lady at the opera, with a score

Day 278 — Old lady at the opera, with a score
06-May-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

I talk a bit about the old lady at the opera—she saw Mahler conduct at the Staatsoper.
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Day 277: Note from Nadia Boulanger

Day 277 — Note from Nadia Boulanger
05-May-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

Nadia Boulanger note part 1
A wonderful note comes to me from Fontainebleau in France. Nadia Boulanger has written me a handwritten note. A treasure. Today’s post is one of the most important to me, personally, in this entire year of blogging.
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Day 271: A history of John’s hair in Vienna

Day 271 — A history of John’s hair in Vienna
29-April-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

John college yearbook 1971
I go to the 60s hippie rock-musical, Hair. Inspired by the theme of hair, I present a history of my hair in 1971 Vienna. What happened? Plenty of pictures today.
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Day 269: RPO, Tchaikovsky 4, Pirates of the Caribbean

Day 269 — RPO, Tchaikovsky 4, Pirates of the Caribbean
27-April-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Michael Tilson Thomas Tchaikovsky 4
A good day for everything—horn, piano, electronic music, and a concert. Tchaikovsky 4 is on the menu today and a bit of Pirates of the Caribbean. Arrgh! My last day of German journal writing. Yay!
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Day 267: Partying with Bernstein

Day 267 — Partying with Bernstein
25-April-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

Bernstein 1972 in Vienna
After another rehearsal of Mahler’s 5th, I get a surprise. I’m invited, along with a group of students, to go to a party for Leonard Bernstein.

I’m partying with Bernstein.
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Day 266: Missed Mahler, not Mozart

Day 266 — Missed Mahler, not Mozart
24-April-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

A missed opportunity to see another Bernstein Mahler concert ends up with me at a lesser-known Mozart opera.
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Day 265: Bernstein and Vienna Boys’ Choir in Mahler 3

Day 265 — Bernstein and Vienna Boys’ Choir in Mahler 3
23-April-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

Bernstein Mahler concert in Musikverein
What a day, again! A long post for a great day. The Vienna Boys’ Choir, first in church, and then in concert with Leonard Bernstein performing Mahler’s 3rd Symphony. Wow. Today, was the day I took pictures inside the Musikverein. Then an opera at night. Is Vienna, the City of Music or what?
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Day 262: Rehearsing at Schönbrunn

Day 262 — Rehearsing at Schönbrunn
20-April-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Today, I discover that I’m playing in a rehearsal of
Don Pasquale at the theatre in Schönbrunn Palace.
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Day 261: Tannhäuser nicht gut?

Day 261 — Tannhäuser nicht gut?
19-April-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

Not much today.
Tannhäuser the opera. Again in German.
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Day 259: Mahler 5 televised

Day 259 — Mahler 5 televised
17-April-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

Roland Berger 1st horn VPO
Today, we get to see Bernstein conduct Mahler 5 for the televised version of the concerts. I get to see Bernstein from the organ balcony and fifth row orchestra. I also meet Roland Berger, 1st horn of the Vienna Philharmonic.

A great day.
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Day 258: Bernstein moves the Earth

Day 258 — Bernstein moves the Earth
16-April-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

Bernstein and the VPO
Bernstein literally moves the Earth today [read earthquake] in a concert of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in the Musikverein. I snuck in for free and got Mr. Bernstein’s autograph after the concert. Yes.
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Day 257: More Bernstein, more Mahler

Day 257 — More Bernstein, more Mahler
15-April-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

More electronic music, more Bernstein, more Mahler, and more translation.
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Day 255: Ein wunderbar Tage

Day 255 — Ein wunderbar Tage
13-April-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Berger and Gabler
An incredibly full day—horn lesson, piano practice, electronic music composition and lecture, Leonard Bernstein rehearsing the Vienna Philharmonic, another Bach Heiler concert, and watching Buster Keaton silent films. I’m still writing in German. The big news—Leonard Bernstein is in town conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in a Mahler series. This is big. Photos from the 1972 Mahler Symphony No. 5, concert video, today.

Was this a full day or what? An incredible day.
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Day 254: Schreiben Deutsch, zweimal

Day 254 — Schreiben Deutsch, zweimal
12-April-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

I’m writing in German again. Damn. Actually, it was probably good for me at the time, though no one would read it and perhaps correct me. I attend a silent film festival dedicated to Buster Keaton. I remember these being very funny.
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Day 253: Ich schreiben Deutsch, heute (badly)

Day 253 — Ich schreiben Deutsch, heute (badly)
11-April-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

Today, I write my journal totally in German. What was I thinking back then? Was German the national language or something? Or did Anjali write me saying that I might learn German better if I tried to write it? Regardless, I test my 36-year old knowledge of German and try to translate on the fly (riding back home on the train from a music convention). How did I do?
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Day 252: Ballet night

Day 251 — Ballet night
10-April-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

After a normal day, I take in a ballet at night. It’s contemporary music and dance.
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Day 248: Strassebahn traffic jam

Day 248 — Strassebahn traffic jam
06-April-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Strassebahn cleanup
Today the Viennese streetcars experience an unusual traffic jam. At night, we’re at the Volksoper with An Italian in Algiers and then have a drink afterwards with my horn teacher, Prof. Gabler.
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Day 245: A ginormous opera

Day 245 — A ginormous opera
03-April-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

On a national holiday, I take in a
ginormous opera – Parsifal.
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Day 244: Easter Sunday; tourists

Day 244 — Easter Sunday; tourists
02-April-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

It’s Easter Sunday and I am playing tourist guide—meeting tourists at mass where the Vienna Boys’ Choir performs and then taking them on a walking tour. A German girl attracts my attention.
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Day 243: Fragments, not sentences

Day 243 — Fragments, not sentences
01-April-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

A normal day with some music, reading, eating, and opera. I talk a bit about my journal writing—fragments, not sentences.
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Day 241: Back to Bohème

Day 241 — Back to Bohème
30-March-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

A good day ends with Giacomo Puccini’s
La Boheme at the Staatsoper, and a beer.
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Day 233: Bruckner 8 in the Musikverein

Day 233 — Bruckner 8 in the Musikverein
22-March-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

Vienna Musikverein concert
The student orchestra of the Vienna Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Wien Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst) performs Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 in the wonderful Großer Saal of the Vienna Musikverein under the direction of Maestro Karl Östereicher. A great lifetime thrill and fun to play.
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Day 228: From Bach to rock

Day 228 — From Bach to rock
17-March-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

It’s a packed day of electronic music, Bach organ magic, and a rock dance. Best part—I get additional scholarship money. Money is appreciated.
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Day 223: Don’t be rude

Day 223 — Don’t be rude
12-March-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

Anna Moffo 1956
Don’t be rude at a concert. Be quiet. I am at an Anna Moffo recital.
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Day 218: Lofty musings today—Hermann Hesse

Day 218 — Lofty musings today—Hermann Hesse
07- March-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

Today is heavy with abstract concepts and thoughts. I want to make an abstract film about the human body and talk about influences. It’s Hermann Hesse’s fault.

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Day 214: A good, no, “excellent” day

Day 214 — A good, no, “excellent” day
03-March-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

An excellent day. Stravinsky, Berio, and Bruckner. Today, praise of contemporary music.
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Day 213: Critiquing and my music

Day 213 — Critiquing and my music
02-March-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Another full day and some critique of contemporary music, and my music. I talk just a little bit about my music.
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Day 212: Pupofon Zweimal

Day 212 — Pupofon Zweimal
01-March (März)-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

Pupofon
Electronic scoring and electronic live performance, Prof. Kaufmann’s Pupofon, are the highlights of today. A good full day of music. I wonder about lost opportunities and lost composition.
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Day 206: The Viennese experience; the Valkyries

Day 206 — The Viennese experience; the Valkyries
24-February-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

Wotan and Brunhilde

I talk a bit about the Viennese experience and why I couldn’t recreate it back home. It’s another great night at the opera with The Valkyries. Check out Pierre Boulez conducting The Ride of the Valkyries on YouTube. I may use the Valkyrie motive as a ringtone for certain family members. No, not my wife, Brunhilde.

Here’s my wife and I in costume as Wotan and Brunhilde.
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Day 205: Musique concrète—from Vienna to teaching

Day 205 — Musique concrète—from Vienna to teaching
23-February-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

Today, I talk about some of the techniques used to create music/sound in the
musique concrète genre and how they can be used to teach musical concepts to young students, exploring musical creativity through electronic music and filmmaking. The students, grades 7–9, presented a full program of their creative work in a special Bicentennial program to the school. They were wonderful. Read More...

Day 204: Jehudi Menuhin concert

Day 204 — Jehudi Menuhin concert
22-February-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

A busy day with a Yehudi Mehuhin concert at night.
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Day 202: Horn players love Richard Strauss

Day 202 — Horn players love Richard Strauss
20-February-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

It’s Sunday and I need to take a break. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the brass section wows me at night.

I discover a ton of online videos relating to
Ein Heldenleben and the horn.
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Day 195: Gourmet Beethoven

Day 195 — Gourmet Beethoven
13-February-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)

Beethoven by Stieler 1820
Today is a GOURMET day. First, my incredible culinary masterpiece—the Sunday meal. Second, wonderful gourmet Beethoven. Life is good.

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Day 180: Vienna Ice Follies

Day 180 — Vienna Ice Follies
29-January-1972 (Samstag–Sat.)

Vienna Ice Follies
A good day for horn and electronic music. At night I see the Ice Follies in Vienna’s Stadthalle. It was enjoyable.
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Day 179: Contemporary music

Day 179 — Contemporary music
28-January-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

Some thoughts on why I overly criticize contemporary music—at least from 36 years ago.
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Day 178: Time Machine Tape Recorder

Day 178 — Time Machine Tape Recorder
27-January-1972 (Donnerstag–Thur.)

I see a good cello concert. I throw out a free business idea to inventors that could reap billions of dollars for someone. It’s free, for you.
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Day 176: Brother Mike in Vienna, yay!

Day 176 — Brother Mike in Vienna, yay!
25-January-1972 (Dienstag–Tue.)

Brother Mike comes to Vienna from Kitzbühel and gets a full day of sightseeing, and a Mozart opera (with actual seats) at night. Quite an excellent day.
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Day 172: Munich, Day 2

Day 172 — Munich, Day 2
21-January-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

Day 2 in Munich brings together ballet, opera, museum, and a visit to a U.S. Army hospital and the famous Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s famous beer hall. A great day.
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Day 170: Get Ready, Munich

Day 170 — Get Ready, Munich
19-January-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)

This year’s concert experiences have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young music student. I have never been able to recreate this musical journey to this day, 36 years later.

I get ready for my trip to Munich to see my college friends of Montclair State, followed by a ski trip to Kitzbuhel to see my brother. I leave at night. Exciting.
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Day 168: A Lulu of a day

Day 168 — A Lulu of a day
17-January-1972 (Montag–Mon.)

It’s a
Lulu of a day. I had two good lessons. It’s a day at the dentist. It’s Lulu at the opera. And, I learn a life-lesson from a young blind boy.
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Day 167: Back to music

Day 167 — Back to music
16-January-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)


It’s back to some concertizing in Vienna. A Beethoven mass and Brahm’s symphony. Music heals the soul. In 2008, I need some soul healing—back to the blog.

My brother and college buddies are coming to Europe. I’m going to try and hookup with them.

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Day 165: Electronic music class; a horn recital; dreams

Day 165 — Electronic music class; a horn recital; dreams
14-January-1972 (Freitag–Fri.)

1971 Electronic music class with Dieter Kaufmann
Today is a full day of school—electronic music class, a horn class recital, and dreams of returning to Vienna. This photo is that of our electronic music class. A good question to ask ourselves is how our lives would be different today, if we had pursued and followed those early dreams.

It’s never too late to dream and it's never too late to take those first steps on your journey.

Enjoy!
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Day 152: Glückliches Neues Jahr; New Year’s Day concert; off to St. Anton

Day 152 — Glückliches Neues Jahr; New Year’s Day concert; off to St. Anton
01-January-1972 (Sat.)

Johann Strauss statue at night
What a day! That’s how I end today’s reflections. I get into standing room for the world-famous New Year’s Day concert by the Vienna Philharmonic that features waltzes and polkas by Johann Strauss’ I and II, dad and son. What fun! Then, I head off on the train to the Austrian Alps, stop in Innsbruck to give Elisabeth a gift, and then head on to the world-famous ski resort of St. Anton for a week of skiing.

What a day! What a year!
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Day 151: New Year’s Eve—Die Fledermaus

Day 151 — New Year’s Eve—Die Fledermaus
31-December-1971 (Fri.)


A day filled with New Year's Eve traditions—spending all day in a standing room line, an ad-lib performance of
Die Fledermaus, sneaking in champagne into the opera house (?), Kärtnerstrasse, Stephansdom Platz, and partying. Great performances. Great traditions. Too much to drink. Read More...

Day 150: Lord of Wagner's Ring

Day 150 — Lord of Wagner's Ring
30-December-1971 (Thur.)

Lucille and the Dixie Pixies
Before the Lord of the Rings movies, there was Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. I go to see the first opera, Das Rheingold. Although there is no CGI (computer-graphic imagery) in these operas, as in the movie, the live staging and effects that an opera company often produces for a Wagnerian opera can often be quite dramatic and inspiring.

What do these girls (above) have to do with Wagner? Nothing. A Montclair State friend, Lucille, informs me that they are heading to Munich soon. Yay.

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Day 148: Fly Dutchman, Fly

Day 148 — Fly Dutchman, Fly
28-December-1971 (Tue.)

Richard Wagner PD
A normal school day; my first Wagnerian opera ends the day. Read More...

Day 146: My Christmas present

Day 146 — My Christmas present
26-December-1971 (Sun.)


SUMMARY

My Christmas present comes today—a package of candy from the elderly lady whose money I found on the bus.

Other than that, myself and two girls wander Vienna's famous graveyard, the Central Cemetery, where many a famous composer is buried. It is foggy. It is eerie. Are the spirits talking to me? Happy

A delightful Bedrich Smetana opera ends the day.
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Day 145: Vienna! Frohe Weihnachten—Merry Christmas!

Day 145 — Vienna! Frohe Weihnachten—Merry Christmas!
25-December-1971 (Sat.)

Christmas market in Vienna Bernhard Vogl
A wonderful Viennese Christmas day with my roommate, Pavel, his sister, and her friend who have come to see Pavel all the way from California. A good day with some sightseeing, dinner, and conversation. A Verdi opera concludes a great day.

The spirit of Christmas is about families. Meet John’s family and brothers. A photo bonanza. (There are so many photos today—you may need a fast Internet connection for this post.)

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Day 135: “Letter Home” is finished

Day 135 — “Letter Home” is finished
15-December-1971 (Wed.)

Anton Heiler concert
A good full day. I finish my electronic music letter. I plan on taking a skiing trip to Innsbruck. I see a second Anton Heiler organ concert.

Yay. Yay. Yay.
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Day 132: Music and art

Day 132 — Music and art
12-December-1971 (Sun.)


A good day with both contemporary art and Romantic music. I have great subscription seats in the Vienna Musikverein, where I can see the conductor as he conducts the orchestra. From the front. Nice.
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Day 128: My first “thunder-snow”

Day 128 — My first “thunder-snow”
08-December-1971 (Wed.)


Vienna is an amazing city. So amazing that there was thunder and lightening during a snow storm. Wow. I have never experienced that again, even to this day. The opera,
Othello, based on Shakespeare play, ends the day.
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Day 126: Guitarist Julian Bream

Day 126 — Guitarist Julian Bream
06-December-1971 (Mon.)


A Julian Bream guitar concert reminds me of the wonderful experience of hearing top artists perform “live.” Hey, I find some YouTube videos of Bream. Why didn't I think of this before?

I encourage you all to experience as many live music and concert events as are affordable and convenient to you. An apartment or condo in New York City would be nice. And convenient. And expensive.
Winking

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Day 122: Frank Zappa rocks Vienna

Day 122 — Frank Zappa rocks Vienna
02-December-1971 (Thur.)

First 2007 mini snowfall
It’s Vienna—Mahler, Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini, opera, symphony orchestras, and Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Zappa rocks the Konzerthaus in Vienna. Hippies all over the place. It was a blast of a concert. 2007 sees its first mini-snowfall. Read More...

Day 118: Music and art

Day 118 — Music and art
28-November-1971 (Sun.)


Contemporary art films are the focus of today’s journal. What do you see when looking at a film with flowers?
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Day 117: Where’s my turkey?

Day 117 — Where’s my turkey?
27-November-1971 (Sat.)


No turkey for me this year. Totally missed Thanksgiving. I see a contemporary music theatrical event and seem to like it. Europe is generally more open to contemporary music and art.

My cousin, Walter, has left the Peace Corps. I was impressed that he joined them as a volunteer in an African village, building a village well.
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Day 114: Looking dumb

Day 114 — Looking dumb
24-November-1971 (Wed.)


I am a little bit critical of student electronic music compositions today. I also make a comment about my looking dumb. What could I be wearing that would make me say that?
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Day 113: First major snowfall; Heiler plays Bach

Day 113 — First major snowfall; Heiler plays Bach
23-November-1971 (Tue.)


The first major snowfall of the year makes me happy. The parks are beautiful and serene. A full school day ends with a world-renowed organist, Anton Heiler, in concert.

I love the snow.
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Day 112: Thankful Thanksgiving

Day 112 — Thankful Thanksgiving
22-November-1971 (Mon.)


1971 Vienna sees a bit of snow, a good day of lessons, and a contemporary music concert. 2007 sees a Thankful Thanksgiving and my wedding anniversary.

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Day 110: Theater—Meine Angemessene Dame

Day 110 — Theater—Meine Angemessene Dame
20-November-1971 (Sat.)

Johns famous horn photo
Mit ein wenig von der Liebe, yes, Mit ein wenig von der Liebe. Nothing like a theater production of My Fair Lady in German. An enjoyable production. I get to see my Baden 35mm slides (Day 083) back from film processing, and John's famous horn photo is taken today.
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Day 108: Will meet Rotary students

Day 108 — Will meet Rotary students
18-November-1971 (Thur.)


A full day at school followed by a Verdi opera at night. Two letters, from Anjali and Rotary Clubs International, complete the day.
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Day 107: Concert nerves

Day 107 — Concert nerves
17-November-1971 (Wed.)


A young performer has a nerve-wracking concert. What does it take to be a top-tier performing artist?


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Day 101: Good horn lesson, I want to practice

Day 101 — Good horn lesson, I want to practice
11-November-1971 (Thur.)


I finally feel like I have a really good horn lesson. Thus, I want to practice more. The only thing is that I can’t, there is a problem with the practice rooms.

At night, a Strauss opera. A Richard Strauss opera is not an easy listen.
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Day 100: 100th Anniversary

Day 100 — 100th Anniversary
10-November-1971 (Wed.)

IU La Boheme stream 01
I take a single line of journal text and expand it into a discourse about my music studies at Indiana University. Read, you may find it interesting. The photos on this posting are from yesterday's Indiana Unversity live performance and streaming of La Boheme.

It’s our 100th anniversary. 100 days.
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Day 097: Grab that shovel—Dig up your past

Day 97 — Grab that shovel—Dig up your past
07-November-1971 (Sun.)

While 1971 is a great day for music with two concerts, 2007 sees me digging up my past. I am having a blast and it is bringing up great memories, some slightly corny love songs, and a ton of music-on-tape that I haven’t heard in decades. I am so excited, that I ramble on forever in today’s posting.

I encourage you to do the same. Dig up your past and enjoy those memories.
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Day 096: Mozart’s Nozze; 36yearsago perfect for iPhone

Day 96 — Mozart’s Nozze; 36yearsago perfect for iPhone
06-November-1971 (Sat.)

John in Vienna
We discuss Mozart’s Nozze today, Le Nozze de Figaro. I take some Mozartian pictures of myself in tribute to Mozart.

If you have an iPhone, the 36yearsago blog reads very nicely on it, or an iPod Touch. Try it.
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Day 093: Meet Maurizio Pollini and Olga

Day 93 — Meet Maurizio Pollini and Olga
03-November-1971 (Wed.)

Olga in fall foliage
1971 in Vienna ends with an amazing Maurizio Pollini piano concert.

2007 in NJ presents my beautiful wife, Olga. I have been neglecting the family ever since I began this project. Thus, I make amends by offering her international attention. Yes, my readership will now go up to 15 or so.
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Day 092: Tights, tutus, and tippie-toes

Day 92 —Tights, tutus, and tippie-toes
02-November-1971 (Tue.)


Austrian skiing
Excitement stirs. Plans for a skiing vacation are formulating. I talk a bit about my regret of not traveling more in life. Damn Euro/dollar ratio. Damn time.

I enjoy my first ballet in Vienna—
Swan Lake. There are men in tights, women in tutus, and lots of tippie-toes.
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Day 091: Feiertag, Austrian Rotary

Day 91 — Feiertag, Austrian Rotary
01-November-1971 (Mon.)


Feiertag. Holiday. It’s All Saints Day, the day after Halloween. I’m spending money too fast, and trying to meet with Austrian Rotary Club members. Mozart’s
Magic Flute restores calm. Read More...

Day 090: A nice Sunday

Day 90 — A nice Sunday
31-October-1971 (Sun.)

Autumn park in Vienna
Sunday brings enjoyment. Walking, Vienna Boys' Choir, and a Puccini opera.

You can now subscribe to the blog via a Feedburner feed that can be read by a newsreader, newsreader service, or web browser.
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Day 087: Tonight it’sa Italian—Rigoletto

Day 87 — Tonight it’sa Italian—Rigoletto
28-October-1971 (Thur.)


It'sa Italian a'night. After a normal day, I hit the opera house and see Guiseppe Verdi’s opera,
Rigoletto.
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Day 084: Pupofon - electronic music opera

Day 84 — Pupofon—electronic music opera
25-October-1971 (Mon.)

Pupofon II this is not a puppet
No complaining today, I’m getting better at the horn. See, practice makes perfect.

I encounter an arrogant American traveler who can’t survive on $1,000 a week in Vienna.

Finally, I end the day with a great electronic music opera by my very own teacher, Dieter Kaufmann. There are tall, giant puppets walking around. Great concert.

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Day 078: Three days, three world-class horn players

Day 78 — Three days, three world-class horn players
19-October-1971 (Tues.)

I've said it many times. Vienna is the city of music. In just three consecutive days, I see two solo horn concerts and an orchestra concert for a grand total of hearing three world-class horn players. AND I meet all three backstage, speak with them, obtain autographs, and try to assimilate their horn-playing skills into my body. I'm not certain if that last part worked, and so I take it upon myself to speak with them on a first-name basis.

That would be Herman, Barry, and Alan.

Vienna is the city of music.
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Day 077: Barry's in town; Sight singing

Day 77 — Barry's in town; Sight singing
18-October-1971 (Mon.)


Wow! Surprises. First, being placed in the most difficult section of sight singing class, starting off with atonal sight singing. What’s next? Well, it’s a tremendous concert with world-renowned French hornist, Barry Tuckwell. After the concert, I’m speaking on a first-name basis with Barry.

In the U.S., I never get to meet anyone at concerts. In Vienna, I’m meeting everyone. It was magical.

Today’s a long post.
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Day 076: Sunday walks and music

Day 76 — Sunday walks and music
17-October-1971 (Sun.)

Vienna park in autumn
It’s Sunday—a Bruckner mass, a walk in the park, and a great French horn performance by Hermann Baumann—remember, I’m a horn player. A frustrated horn player; though I haven’t been complaining lately. Happy

Fall/winter is on the way.
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Day 075: My trumpet's Baroque

Day 75 — My trumpet's Baroque
16-October-1971 (Sat.)

A natural horn
A quiet day of practice, reading, and a chamber concert with a Baroque trumpet.

Hey, that's not a trumpet. Why is it here? Just a short science lesson on the natural horn and the harmonic series.
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Day 073: Two concerts, two decades, too good

Day 73 — Two concerts, two decades, too good
14-October-1971 (Thur.)

2007 Oleg Chmyr and Ukrainian opera singers
The title says it all—two concerts, two decades, too good. 1971 features an incredible concert with the Romeros, a family-style classical guitar ensemble, known for their flamenco playing. The crowd goes wild! There are five encores. John is on stage with them! What? How did that happen?

A wonderful 2007 operatic concert reintroduces me to some well-needed live music.
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Day 071: Music—no boundaries

Day 71 — Music—no boundaries
12-October-1971 (Tue.)

A second performance of
War and Peace by the Bolshoi brings about some introspective thoughts on the power and influence of music on us. Music transcends politics. The arts have no boundaries.

A serious journal entry.
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Day 069: The early bird gets the book

Day 69 — The early bird gets the book
10-October-1971 (Sun.)

Brass band in park
Today is such a jam-packed day—from the early-bird in line for tickets, to a morning mass, reading books, walking in the park, taking pictures, and ending with a night opera—today was, well, jam-packed.

I take a tangent on the
benefits of reading. I’ll throw in a bunch of pictures if you promise to read about reading.
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Day 068: Music appreciation, Vienna style

Day 68 — Music appreciation, Vienna style
09-October-1971 (Sat.)


I don’t practice today. I go to see
Boris Godunov for the second time. Again, performed by the Bolshoi. The Viennese really love their music and they show it. This is music appreciation at its best.
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Day 066: One-step-in-front-of-the-other

Day 66 — One-step-in-front-of-the-other
07-October-1971 (Thur.)


Sergei Prokofiev Wikimedia Commons
Life goes on with my second horn lesson and the notification that I need to do better. I will. Once again, music fills the evening with a performance of Prokofiev’s War and Peace performed by the amazing Bolshoi Theater Company. Prokofiev is on the right here. Hi Sergei. (I like that name.) Read More...

Day 065: William Tell, meet Bonanza

Day 65 — William Tell, meet Bonanza
06-October-1971 (Wed.)

AES Show Mixer
Remember my horn audition? Well, I blew it. I guess I was very nervous. What will happen next? Will I get into school? I’m not certain. I need some soul soothing—Tchaikovsky and the Lone Ranger to the rescue.

In 2007, I hit the Audio Engineering Show in NYC to walk down the aisles of Javits Center and look at all of the music and recording equipment that I can’t afford to buy. Well, I can buy a few things.
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Day 064: Boris is good enough



2007 Washington National Art Gallery
It’s the Bolshoi Theater Company at the Staatsoper with a rousing performance of Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov. It’s an amazing performance. Mussorgsky is certainly good enough for me. In 2007, I spend a bit of time in Washington, D.C.
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Day 057: Hot cold, Ying Yang

Day 57 — Hot cold, Ying Yang
28-September-1971 (Tues.)


Experiencing the opposites of life, a bad hair day turns into a good hair day. Hair aside, I find a room to live in for the remainder of the year. It’s a great day.

A double-bill of two light Italian operas,
Cavalleria rusticano and Paglicacci at the Volksoper makes it even better.
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Day 055: A Haydn Mass, Chicago II

Day 55 — A Haydn Mass, Chicago II
26-September-1971 (Sun.)

Vienna Musikverein concert hall
Music, music, music.

Haydn, horn, Chicago Symphony.

I’m just living music in this town. My horn teacher gets me backstage. I hob-knob with fellow “hornists” (no such word—but you can do anything as a blogger). What a musical year.
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Day 054: Incredible Two's

Day 54 — Incredible Two's
25-September-1971 (Sat.)

Vienna Musikverein
What a day!

Two incredible:
• concerts
• conductors
• orchestras
• symphonies
• horn sections

The day was mostly two amazing concerts by two incredible, internationally renowned orchestras—the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony. From Dr. Karl Böhm to Sir Georg Solti, to Dvorak’s
New World Symphony and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, I was in heaven.

What a day!
What a city!
Vienna, the city of music.
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Day 053: Mozart's magical opera

Day 53 — Mozart’s magical opera
24-September-1971 (Fri.)

Mozart statue in park
There’s magic in the air, at the Volksoper, with Mozart’s Magic Flute opera. I imagine writing a multimedia version of an opera, though it hasn’t yet happened.

The
Magic Flute is a wonderful opera. Try to see it, if you can. Kids would like it as well.

Still practicing. Roommates leaving. Exam coming up.
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Day 052: Standing room only, La Bohème

Day 52 — Standing room only, La Bohème
23-September-1971 (Thur.)

Vienna Staatsoper at night
Standing room only, please. That’s the ticket (10 schillings) to seeing a lot of opera for us students. And what an opera it is, “La Bohème,” a Puccini favorite.
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Day 049: The Vienna State Opera (Wozzeck)

Day 49 — The Vienna State Opera (Wozzeck)
20-September-1971 (Mon.)

Vienna State Opera
My first visit to the Vienna State Opera. The building and interior of the opera house, and the performance of the opera Wozzeck, all lead to a grand conclusion for the day.
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Day 044: My new horn teacher–Professor Gabler

Day 44 — My new horn teacher—Professor Gabler
15-September-1971 (Wed.)


I get to meet my new horn teacher, Professor Gabler, at the opera. I’m in the pits, literally, during a Volksoper rehearsal. Great experience. Then, an opera at night.

I’m loving opera. I’m loving Vienna.
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Day 039: Der Freischutz—my first opera in Vienna

Day 39 — Der Freischutz—my first opera in Vienna
10-September-1971 (Fri.)


I'm in heaven.

I get to see my first opera in Vienna,
Der Freischutz, performed at the Volksoper. I’m really enjoying the opera, the horn playing, and the musical life in Vienna.

Did you know that the Viennese had their own brand of “French Horn”—the Viennese horn?

Did you know that the early Vienna F-natural horn had no valves? Just like the "Ricola" alpen-horn guys on the commercial. Try playing a Mozart horn concerto on your Boomwhacker™.

[The Boomwhacker™ is a plastic tube, used in elementary music education, that you whirl around your head to create musical pitches. The tubes come in different sizes, each tube length produces a single note. I was making a funny. A joke. Ok, it's not funny. It's clever.]
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Day 026: Mahler’s 8th Symphony; Schönbrunn Palace

Day 26 — Mahler’s 8th Symphony; Schönbrunn Palace
28-August-1971 (Sat.)

Schonbrunn Palace gardens 01
What a day. A visit to the incredible Schönbrunn Palace and gardens with Anjali, and an incredible performance of Mahler’s 8th Symphony. Shivers…shivers…shivers up and down my spine.

Practice on my new horn and sad to see Achille leave for Italy.

And a little rant on why the RIAA should change their policies and fees on licensing music for Internet-radio and podcasts.
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Day 020: Salzburg finale; Festung Hohensalzburg and the Schubert B-minor Mass

Day 20 — Day 020: Salzburg finale; Festung Hohensalzburg and the Schubert B-minor Mass
22-August-1971 (Sun.)

Magnificent Salzburg 01
I close out my last day in Salzburg with a full day of sightseeing (Mozart museum, Domplatz, and the medieval fortress, Festung Hohensalzburg.

The highlight of the day was my attending a real Mass in a cathedral. 1st row. Oh, it happened to be a full performance of Schubert’s B-minor Mass. Heavenly.
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Day 019: Oom-pah-pah bands, yodelers, and folk dancers

Day 19 — Oom-pah-pah bands, yodelers, and folk dancers
21-August-1971 (Sat.)

Salzburg shopping 01
My 2nd day in Salzburg, Austria is a day of sightseeing—Hellbrunn Palace, Mirabell Gardens, a concert, and a beer garden—with oom-pah-pah bands, yodelers, and those “guys who hop and slap themselves.” No, not Chevy Chase, "those guys."

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Day 014: My first concert—Washington State Choir

Day 14 — Day 014: My first concert—Washington State Choir
16-August-1971 (Mon.)

• Uh, oh! I’m complaining about learning German again.
• Saw my first concert, a university choir from the United States. Yes!
• And a brief flashback to my student concert-going days at Lincoln Center.

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