Post date: Aug 12, 2014 1:27:15 AM
5 September 1965
Last week we [usually the four American music students piled into my VW for these outings] went to Weingarten Abbey and next weekend again, to sing in the choir and see and play the organ—built 1737-50. Also go to Ottobeuren and Ochsenhausen for more Baroque organs.
Last Saturday we went to a wedding in the Kloster church with a Gothic altar. Sat in carved choir stools. Also saw Barock and Rococo churches in Steinhausen, Zwiefalten, and Obermarchten. Some look like a Versailles boudoir!
This area is crawling with old castles and monasteries. This town (8,000 population) has a concert hall, two museums, two castles, a 1500 church and a 1056 monastery as well as several mills. About half the town is post-war and ugly.
12 September
Gestern und heute haben wir einen Ausflug gemacht. “Ausflug” means literally “fly out” or excursion. We went to the high baroque and rococo churches at Ochsenhausen and Ottobeuren. Today we returned to Weingarten (at 7:30am), sang in the choir, saw the organ, had a guided tour of the art work therein by a monk, and heard a concert on organ with viola and cello. Also we saw one of the most complete and well-furnished Burgs [castles] in south Deutschland. It was built about 1100 and occupied (by a knight) until 300 years ago, when it was made into a museum. It’s not very big, but full of armour, pikes, lances, swords, and paintings of historical events. Our guide (for 1 1/2 hours) was a little old man who really knew the mediaeval history of the area north of Lake Konstanz. We also saw, in the Weingartner Rathaus [city hall], stuff made in 400 AD found only in 1952 in graves around Weingarten. Very intricate handwork and well-preserved. Got a personal tour of the Rathaus. Also saw a village procession with villagers in traditional dress, town guard, and band. A very full day.
Friday night we had a party in the Goethe Institut. About 80 came. We had entertainment—singing, guitar, games, reading of poetry—for 2 1/2 hours by students, then beer and dancing ’til 1am. A long evening but very fun and interesting. There are about a dozen Americans and we sang folk songs and social protest songs. Here, too, are a tenor, soprano, organist, and we four sang some very nice (but difficult) German songs.
Next Friday night a pianist, violinist, organist, and I “fly out” to Salzburg for the weekend. Fun.
We have only two weeks here remaining. I will probably go to Ludwigsburg the 26th and visit the Fachschule [which appears to have closed in the past 45 years] before I go to Brackwede. I must write Herr Kleuker and ask about a room. I’ll try to write to him in German.
I’m only getting 30 mpg in the VW on long trips—most likely because of the bigger engine. [I had a 1957 VW before.] The car runs well. The opening rear windows and metal sliding roof are very nice. Unfortunately we don’t have much sun.