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10 - The Picture on the Wall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2012

Chris Walton
Affiliation:
University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Orchestre Symphonique Bienne in Switzerland
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Summary

With St. Gallen under his belt—bringing Fr. 3000 per annum plus travel expenses—and increasing success at home and abroad, Schoeck now felt confident enough to give up his last choral conducting post, that with the LGV. Giving up the Aussersihl Chorus alone had not reduced the burden that choral conducting had become to him. He used to compare his choir's singing of a chord to the bullets peppered around the bull's-eye during target practice, and when he later heard of Alois Hába's experiments with quarter-tone music, he quipped: “We've had that in [Swiss] choirs for years.” Against the wishes of many old members, the LGV had at Schoeck's insistence accepted the idea of bringing in women in order to venture into the broader repertoire for mixed choir. Now even this was not enough to tie him down any longer. He accordingly informed the LGV committee in mid-December 1917 of his decision to resign. His two final concerts, on 3 and 5 February 1918, were devoted to Mozart. The one comprised the Requiem followed by Ave verum corpus, while the other featured choruses from König Thamos, three solo arias, the clarinet concerto, and the oratorio Davidde penitente. As is often the case when a man has already tended his resignation, Schoeck's heart was not in the task, and his apathy began to drive members away. He even screamed and stamped his foot at the orchestra in one of the final rehearsals, and was amazed when they rose up in protest.

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Chapter
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Othmar Schoeck
Life and Works
, pp. 73 - 77
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2009

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  • The Picture on the Wall
  • Chris Walton, University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Orchestre Symphonique Bienne in Switzerland
  • Book: Othmar Schoeck
  • Online publication: 12 September 2012
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  • The Picture on the Wall
  • Chris Walton, University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Orchestre Symphonique Bienne in Switzerland
  • Book: Othmar Schoeck
  • Online publication: 12 September 2012
Available formats
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  • The Picture on the Wall
  • Chris Walton, University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Orchestre Symphonique Bienne in Switzerland
  • Book: Othmar Schoeck
  • Online publication: 12 September 2012
Available formats
×