Spring 2015 issue

G ERMAN M AGAZINE C LUB

J AMES M ITCHELL K ATHERINE R OBERTS E LIZABETH F IELD M ADDIE H ARRIS J EREMY H ILL C HARLOTTE F ARRELL - P OULTON A MRITA R AHMAN R IEKE D ECKER

From the Editor We have had plenty more articles produced by the members of GMC this term, and some of the highlights include German youth movements, Johannes Brahms and some exciting tongue twisters. There is even the chance to practice reading German in the Revolverhead article.

CONTENTS PAGE 4 …………………………GIRL GUIDES IN GERMANY PAGE 5…………………………SCOUTS IN GERMANY PAGE 6…………………………POVERTY IN GERMANY PAGE 7………………………… A GERMAN EASTER

This will be the last magazine of the year, and the last one that I shall be editor of, as we all move on through the school system. I would like to thank all of the First Year Students for writing the articles, Rieke for advising us on all things German, and Mrs Allen for overseeing the club.

Happy reading!

James Mitchell, Editor

PAGE 8…………………………JOHANNES BRAHMS PAGE 9…………………………GERMAN IN THE OLYMPICS

Tuesdays 1:30 PM

PAGE 10 ………………………THE STORY OF REVOLVERHEAD

L4 Computer Room

PAGE 11………………………..GERMAN SCHOOLS

All Years Welcome

PAGE 12……………………….GERMAN ANIMALS PAGE 13……………………….GERMAN TONGUE TWISTERS

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He was born in Hamburg, on the 7th May 1833.

He was the second of Johanna Henrika Christiane Nissen and Johann Jakob Brahms' three children. Music was introduced to his life at an early age. His father was a double bassist in the Hamburg Philharmonic Society, and the young Brahms began playing the piano at the age of seven.

By the time he was a teenager, Brahms was already an accomplished musician, and he used his talent to earn money at local inns and along the city's docks to ease his family's often tight financial conditions. In 1853 Brahms was introduced to the renowned German composer and music critic Robert Schumann. The two men quickly grew close, with Schumann seeing in his younger friend great hope for the future of music.

In 1854 Schumann fell ill. In a sign of his close friendship with his mentor and his family, Brahms assisted Schumann's wife, Clara, with the management of her household affairs. Music historians believe that Brahms soon fell in love with Clara, though she doesn't seem to have reciprocated his admiration. Even after Schumann's death in 1856, the two remained solely friends.

Over the next several years, Brahms held several different posts, including conductor of a women's choir in Hamburg, which he was appointed to in 1859. He also continued to write his own music. These included "String Sextet in B-flat Major" and "Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor." In the early 1860s Brahms made his first visit to Vienna, and in 1863 he was named director of the Singakademie, a choral group, where he concentrated on historical and modern ‘a cappella’ works.

Brahms, for the most part, enjoyed steady success in Vienna. By the early 1870s he was principal conductor of the Society of Friends of Music. He also directed the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for three seasons.

His own work continued as well. In 1868, following the death of his mother, he finished "A German Requiem," a composition based on Biblical texts and often cited as one of the most important pieces of choral music created in the 19th century. The multi-layered piece brings together mixed chorus, solo voices and a complete orchestra.

Brahms' contributions covered light ground too. His compositions from this period included waltzes and two volumes of "Hungarian Dances" for piano duet.

Brahms never married. Following his failed attempt at making Clara Schumann his lover, Brahms went on to have a small string of relationships. They included an affair with Agathe von Siebold in 1858, which he quickly, for reasons never really understood, withdrew from.

It does seem as though Brahms fell in love easily. One account has him having to deny giving a woman piano lessons because of his attraction to her. On May 20th, 1896, his old friend Clara Schumann passed away after several years of health problems. Around this time, Brahms' own health began to deteriorate.

Doctors discovered that his liver was in poor condition. Brahms gave his last performance in March 1897 in Vienna. He died a month later, on April 3, 1897, from complications due to cancer.

By Katherine Roberts

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Joining In Athletes from Germany, have taken part in most of the Olympics since the first Games in1896.

Germany has hosted three Olympic Games, the Summer and Winter Games of 1936, and the Summer 1972 Games. Including the Winter Games of 2014, German athletes have won 1681 One to watch Judith Arndt One to watch Judith Arndt medals: 547 gold, 567 silver and 567 bronze.

Christian Ahlmann - Equestrian

Mona Barthel - Tennis

Anton Braun - Rowing

Examples of some German athletes that competed in London 2012

Jana Berezko-Marggrander – Rym gym

By Maddie Harris

Florian Fuchs - Hockey

Judith Arndt – Cycling road & track

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