GDR Music Research - A little extra History

The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Hi Friends,

Now that I've shared my goals and resolutions for the new year, I'm diving back into my Violin Music of East Germany project and research. It occurred to me that I need to back up a little bit and dive into some of the general history and facts about East Germany before and after World War II. This land has been the home to some of Classical Music's most beloved composers and performers throughout history, so it is crucial to understand this project's context beyond the forgotten composers of an era.

I've compiled a few YouTube videos that highlight different elements of East Germany, including Rick Steve's overview of some important monuments and history in Leipzig and Dresden, to a walking music tour of Berlin. It also includes a playlist of East German Music, a discussion of the Wall, propaganda footage, and historical documentation of life on the "other" side. All this to paint a picture of the musical climate that has captured my attention. 

I've begun exploring music from decades before East Germany became the GDR (or DDR) and will be weaving together programs that intertwine the vast and immense history of a region with the voices of forgotten musical creators. 

Enjoy! I hope you find this both interesting and informative.

1.     As much as his cheesiness makes me want to roll my eyes sometimes, Rick Steves points out some of the reasons why two of my favorite cities in Germany are so culturally significant, iconic, and beloved throughout time. These cities and their musical significance were the impetus for me to start wondering why there were no famous and iconic composers from this region after World War II 

2.     Check out this Musical walking Tour of Berlin. This film was recorded at the beginning of coronavirus and geographically organized musically significant city locations. It is incredible how close together some of these important places and musical performances happened to one another. Fascinating and worthwhile. There isn't much about East Germany specifically, but you learn so much about the city and Germany's music and geopolitical environment at large.

 3.     A brief animated history of Life in East Germany 

4.     Fascinating footage of East Germany, propaganda, and more 

 5.     The rise and fall of the Wall 

 I love this quote, "Any barriers we put up to impede freedom, we can also take down."

6.     A fascinating cultural documentary about life in East Germany with historical footage 

 7.     Life Behind the Berlin Wall, from The Economist 

8.     I've been to this place on the Wall. The Berlin Wall Museum is now housed there on the West Berlin side.  We also walked through the cemetery and into the Church of Reconciliation (which looks very different now). Can you imagine seeing this every day? This is haunting and eye-opening

 9.     Last but not least, an hour of East German (GDR/DDR) Music – but NOT violin music…because that's the project I'm working on right now. 

The Traveling Violinist - NYC.

Dear New York,

I used to be so intimidated by you. I was afraid of your allure. Convinced I wasn’t ready to meet you. Certain you would eat me alive.

I’m glad I overcame my fear. I’m glad I visited.

5 days in the Big Apple. How could I be so wrong?

Active Violinist and The City

Day 1 – Wednesday

Jeff and I arrived in the afternoon and after leaving our luggage at the very hip and cool Yotel in Midtown we walked the Highline. It is pretty wonderful. There are so many gorgeous buildings, interesting architecture, great views (into peoples’ homes and of the city), interesting people watching, and wonderful nooks and resting areas. It is so serene. We walked the entire way to the new Whitney Museum. We bought coffee and Mexican food along the way and waded through some excellently placed water fixtures (hot, tired feet!).

High Line views.

Yum! Yum! Yum!

Jeff was really looking forward to 'studying this conceptual approach to public space' sadly everyone was very much the opposite of nude.

When we got to the Whitney we couldn’t NOT go in and look around. What an incredible space! What incredible art! We headed back to the hotel via the city streets.

He is literally melting. An enormous statue made of wax with a lit candle on his shoulder. A selfie in the background only for perspective.

Our hotel was very cool: A happening bar and really great food. We ended up staying in for dinner and were tucked into bed by 10:30pm. We go all out.

The view from our bathroom at the Yotel

Day 2 – Thursday

I met up with my Freshman year dorm-room neighbors for lunch. What a reunion! I hadn’t seen either one of them for at least 8 years. I can’t believe it worked out! I don't think I laughed or giggled like that in quite some time. Their lives sound way more glamorous than mine in (relatively speaking) sleepy Oklahoma. 

Afterwards I walked over to Carnegie Hall in hopes of making my debut only to discover they are closed for the summer. Rude!

Come Hear Me! (one day, one day....fingers crossed forever)

Giving up on stardom (for the moment), I meandered over to Central Park and watched some really fun street performers before dipping in to the American Museum of Natural History. I totally forgot that Night at the Museum with Ben Stiller was filmed here! I chuckled about this (to myself) while observing the exotic taxidermy. 

Heading into the Museum. The only shot I could get without 10,000 tourists included.

The dinosaurs are epic! Head into the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater to hear Liam Neeson narrate some cool facts about the solar system. The whole exhibit on Black holes and Dark Matter is amazing. I could have spent several hours here alone if it weren't bordering on dinnertime. 

Something something something......prehistoric

I was flying solo as Jeff had to work all day so I headed back to the hotel (on foot - the best way to see a city).

If you walk around NYC you will see this scene pretty much everywhere.

We went out to dinner with his boss at Esca, a Mario Battali restaurant around the corner from the hotel. Holy Moly it was good! I like to eat, and I’m not really snobby about it but oh man it was great! I also forgot what kind of wine. Oh well! I recommend it - especially if you like Seafood (and even if you don't!)

We walked over to Times Square after dinner. It is nuts! Honestly this was probably my least favorite part of the trip. Trust me, better viewed from the comfort of your own home. Chaos everywhere. Before hitting the hay we stopped in a local market and picked up some gelato to share on the balcony….in the rain. All in all it was a romantic date for 3.

Times Square.

Day 3 – Friday

I stumbled out into the neighborhood for breakfast and found a fantastic little bakery/coffeeshop called Amy’s Bread. I felt bad for Jeff because he was working in the hotel lobby and I could not stop raving about my pastry and cappuccino when I got back.

We had to change hotels today so I caught an Uber to the Omni Berkshire with our bags and dropped them off before exploring 5th ave for a hot minute.

I stumbled upon a gorgeous church service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

I just love this part of the exterior. Lily - so lovely. I couldn't stop admiring her.

I stopped to smell the lavender at the Rockefeller farmers market (how do you even get a vendor spot here!?), stopped in at Bauman Rare Books to admire some spines (a Brahms score on sale for $18,500!!), and did some serious window shopping pretty much every where.

Rockefeller Lavender. I'm pretty sure Tina Fey AND Alec Baldwin buy their bouquets here.

My family friend from Traverse City came downtown to meet up and we immediately got covered in gold – literally accosted by the 24 carat gold skincare ladies who, for whatever reason thought I could afford $800 face cream. There is so much insecurity imbued in the beauty industry! The more I said “No Thank You” the more of my little imperfections she pointed out…but in the sweetest way possible. Like she was my BFF genuinely concerned about my future; Warning me of my impending botox bill if I didn’t suck it up and smear gold on my face now, before it is too late.

After this semi-demoralizing experience where I was forced to come to terms with my own sagging, drooping, decaying mortality we headed to the West Village for a bite to eat (and a cocktail). Turns out family friend Maxine is kind of besties with Mario Battali so we bellied up to the bar at The Spotted Pig, the former haunt of Philip Seymour Hoffman (R.I.P.). It is cozy and unassuming but hot dang those deviled eggs are worth writing home about.

THE Spotted Pig

Jeff came and met us in the village where we strolled through the lovely streets and admired the intimate and inviting vibe of the area. I know it is silly to say because I will NEVER be able to afford it – BUT I would totally live here.

We had dinner at a really great little French place that we kind of stumbled upon. At the table to our left were 2 buds from college who were clearly now investment bankers – whining about how one’s fiancé demanded $5 million in the prenup and how he said no, took the ring back and now can't decide whether he should take her back. REALLY DUDE!? The whole conversation made me a little ill, and also sort of livid. I'm still thinking about what I should have leaned over and said, what I hoped this unknown lady did and where on his person he should probably 'stash' that ring (hint: probably not recommended by 4 out of 5 Doctors). A serious case of 1% problems.

We ended the evening strolling then headed to the Fulton Street Station (Jeff’s company had a hand in its creation) and walking through the 9/11 Memorial. Probably way more incredible in the daylight but completely impressive at night as well.

So big I couldn't fit it all in one frame!

Day 4 – Saturday

We headed uptown for breakfast, at Sarabeth’s and a little browsing at the Corner Bookstore before heading to the Guggenheim because….duh. 

This place makes me dizzy. Also - has anyone ever organized some sort of run up and down this place? That would be a hoot - and also a killer workout.

-Sidenote about the Corner Bookstore: this is my favorite kind of bookshop: Small, local and full of gems. I loved overhearing a customer ask for advice on what novel she should read next only to hear a variety of choices in so many different genres recommended by the store employees. It just makes me want to read more!

Everything at the Guggenheim is swirling and round....except the stairs.

After the Guggenheim (which was awesome) we picked up coffee from The Church of Heavenly Rest and a stroll through Central Park.

We sipped our fancy shmancy dry cappuccinos while watching a Jazz Quartet jam under a tree in the park, then headed to the Met.

The perfect stage for a drizzly jam in the park

A line out the door and around the corner awaited us. Lucky for us it was moving quickly. I could have spent days and days and days in there.

The ladies - what your outfit feels like after you've seen Manus x Machina

We ended up spending hours in just the Manus x Machina exhibit alone. The crossroads of fashion and technology has really produced some jaw dropping pieces of wearable (or almost wearable? Some designs certainly didn’t seem to keep the human form in mind) art. Blah blah blah there were several Picassos and stuff by other famous people but if you put a gown in a museum, no offense Mr. Pollock, but I’m going to swoon over it.

There's a million more where these came from. If you've ever run into me on Instagram you know I love a good gown pic any day.

For our last evening in the city we headed to Williamsburg for dinner at this crazy hip Thai restaurant with a pond (it seemed like it was straight out of a movie) and a book reading/performance at National Sawdust. Helen DeWitt read from her book The Last Samurai and Timo Andres performed selected piano works mentioned in the book. It was pretty cool. I got my book signed by BOTH OF THEM.

National Sawdust. Not the performers. Obviously.

We stopped by a little Italian place for a late night snack and some wine before strolling (this seems to be our signature tourist move) through the neighborhood before eventually returning to the craziness of 5th Ave.

Day 5 – Sunday

Time to go home. Sob! I did miss Blanche but this was just (barely) the tip of the iceberg! We strolled through Rockefeller Plaza, read our books in Bryant Park and dodged the rain in Barnes and Noble before accepting our fate and heading to the Airport.

It was a great trip – I didn’t get a sunburn, we did some cool stuff, burned some calories, consumed some calories, and learned a bunch of stuff.

My previous avoidance of this city has been turned into interest and fascination. Now I really want to come back and see a performance (or 17) at Carnegie Hall, catch an Opera at the Met, a performance by ABT, hello NY Phil, Orpheus, Alice Tully Hall, Zabar’s, Poisson Rouge…..the list goes on.

In the words of a wise terminator: I’ll be Back