The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music Kylee Buchanan
Driving through the misty Austrian mountains to a small village called Hallstatt was a highlight of Daniel Oster’s unique trip to Austria. He recalls the scene as his choir group was able to sing “Ave Maria” in an open amphitheater facing the magnificent green landscape: “I remember how the fog rose as we started to sing. It was so beautiful. It was early in the morning, and people who lived there started coming out of their houses and thanking us.” Although Austrians primarily speak German, music is a language that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. Whether you travel
Comment [D1]: Kylee, I have a special place in my heart for masses and Beethoven, I love this article. I hope you find my suggestions helpful. I think one of the biggest worries I have with my own piece is that I’m much too academic in my tone. I think you also are having struggles with this. Breaking up long sentences and having a more conversational tone could help make the article more approachable by readers. Please let me know about any questions you may have. Again, best of luck with one of my favorite subjects. Yours, Dallin Comment [D2]: That quote beneath is gorgeous, consider putting this explanation afterwards to really emphasize the scene.
by yourself or in a group, seeking out musical experiences in Austria will enable you to connect with the country on an intimate level by familiarizing you with a significant cultural aspect that characterizes Austria and its people. Austria is the birthplace of many famous composers and has been a site of pilgrimage for lovers of classical music. It is also famous for modern musical sites such as the Bösendorfer Piano
Comment [D3]: Consider breaking this sentence up or even incorporating it in the next paragraph. Its point is covered by the last sentence of the next paragraph, consider adding the cultural aspect in there.
Factory and various filming locations of the musical The Sound of Music. Churches and cathedrals dot the lush landscape and provide opportunities for travelers to participate in services. Because of its rich musical history and culture, Austria provides a unique travel experience for those interested in seeing the country through the lens of music. Classical Sounds Composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwign van Beethoven, and Franz Shubert called Austria home. From them came pieces of music that have survived and are sung and played by musical groups all across the world, such as “Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor” and Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” There are many sites associated with these and other composers that travelers can visit. One of the most famous is the childhood home of Mozart. Located in Salzburg, the Hagenauer House was home to the Mozart family for 26 years. It has been converted
Comment [D4]: Nice headers
into a museum where tourists can see Mozart’s violins, his clavichord, his harpsichord, some of his original scores, and an array of letters and portraits of the Mozart family. Many Austrian composers resided at certain palaces in order to compose music for the noble families. One such place is Schloss Esterhazy, a palace located in the middle of Eisenstadt, Austria. Although it was built in the 1300s, the palace stands intact and has been well preserved. The palace
Comment [D5]: A suggestion for reshaping the paragraph. Lead off with Haydn and talk about how Haydn’s experience with Eisenstadt is common for many musicians in Austria. Start with generalities seems a little too academic.
was home to the Esterhazy family, and to their court musician, Franz Joseph Haydn. Here he composed many of his famous works. The palace is open to the public and has many different exhibitions throughout the year. In 2014, the theme of the exhibitions will be Haydn and Beethoven and will focus on the friendship forged between them through music.
Comment [D6]: Great specific and timely detail.
Religious Sounds In addition to historic sites, tourists can have musical interactions with locals that will enrich travel experience. The number of cathedrals in Austria reveals a religious devotion that is manifested through musical worship. Many cathedrals allow visitors to join them in religious services. One example is the Salzburg Cathedral (also known as the Dom), a Baroque style cathedral located in Salzburg that houses an organ that Mozart frequently played. Travelers can tour the Dom and learn about its historic significance, and then stay for a mass. Most classical music was performed initially in cathedrals similar to the Dom. No matter your religious preference, singing inside a magnificent, centuries-old cathedral is a once in a lifetime experience that will broaden your perspective on classical music. Modern Sounds Local musicians can be found in the public squares of every city in Austria. Many performers will play to promote their music and sell it to passersby. The music scene in Austria is clearly still alive and thriving, and there is plenty of opportunity to join it. Ostler recalls singing with his choir group in the public squares: “In some ways, we became part of the tourist attraction. A few times we stopped as a choir group and sang a few songs in a public place where a lot of people were walking
Comment [D7]: I love this idea. Please consider expanding more on the experience of mass and the kinds of religious music. Like the previous section, consider expanding the Mozart section to let people know how religious the composers were perhaps. Comment [D8]: Can you find a specific example or anecdote with a local performer? What genres of music? How is Austria different from other cities with a busking tradition in the US?
by. Being able to produce something that other people enjoy and could connect to, even though we were countries apart, was really neat and very different from the normal tourist experience.�
Comment [D9]: I like this anecdote, but I think after the paragraph you need a bit more conclusion. It seems this section suggests that others can be included in the public square music scene, but if they’re not in a choir, what else could they do? Why would they want to?