Vienna: Meeting Musical Geniuses

Beautiful and peaceful day at the Zentralfriedhof

Yes, today, I met Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Hugo Wolf, Beethoven, and Strauss. First of all, the cemetery, which was the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) was very far from where we stayed. So, again, I got tested on how well we mastered the whole train system in Vienna. Well, I wasn’t the only one travelling, I was with Bethany, Sara Fox, Nyghel, Todd, Mark, Emily, Jairen, and Patric. It was almost 90 degrees out so it was so hot and it was to get on everyone’s nerves, I was also hungry, which only exacerbated the whole situation, so we ended up splitting the groups in two, me, Jairen, Bethany, and Sara, while everyone else was in the other group.

Johannes Brahms

So, the Zentralfriedhof, I bought flowers, 2 bouquets, because that’s all I could afford, so I decided to put them in Brahms’ and Schuberts’ grave, my favorite composers. The first grave I saw was Johann Strauss’, I haven’t heard much of his music so I wasn’t so starstruck when I saw his grave, I took a picture of it anyway because I know someday I might like his music, next to him…was Brahms, all it said was Brahms and a sculpture of his face and hands trying to write something, maybe a piece. Anyway, his Intermezzo Op.118 no. 2 played in my brain, and stood there in utter silence for how long, I do not know. But I was just amazed by the fact that he is right there, who wrote the music I am so in love with! A genius, is right there! I couldn’t believe it!

The next grave I saw was my other favorite composer: Franz Schubert. His last lied, Die Taubenpost which I sang last semester, played in my brain. I stood there and sat by his grave, and imagined that he and I were talking, just me being so excited about his works and his compositions, and somehow, I know he heard me and he was speaking to me as well.

They all felt so close to me after hearing their music all this time, I felt as if they were conversing with me each time their music is played. I feel honored and happy to have had the opportunity to be this close to them, this is the closest anyone will ever be to them anyway, physically speaking. I am happy and content. There will come a time that I will be able to play the piano music of Brahms and Schubert. Much of the vocal repertoire that I did this past year is centered on Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin, I’m almost done with the cycle, I’ve also seen it performed live here in Austria at the Mozarteum. This semester, I’ll learn some Brahms’ lieder and more Schubert!

Beethoven's Grave