Demonstration for the Military Music

A report by “Spectator“

The LAZARUS UNION which had earlier signed a friendship treaty with the Music Corps of the Austrian Army Guard and is duty-bound to the whole Austrian Army Music Corps as a unique Austrian cultural asset. Almost 1000 musicians (some also from the LAZARUS UNION Music Corps), accompanied by a LAZARUS UNION delegation, were protesting against a staff reduction for cost reasons. A petition with more than 45,000 signatures was handed over to the Austrian parliament.

A couple of tourists might have been wondering what was literally played in front of the Austrian government building on Ballhausplatz 19. May 2015. They don‘t get to see 1000 ragtag musicians playing together all too often in such a Location.

20150519_105103

Those astonished tourists who inquired learned that this was a sympathetic concert in favour of military music, an acoustic demonstration against cost cutting plans of a minister who wants to drastically reduce the Austrian Army Music to one large ensemble in Vienna only. All the other Army music bands in the remaining eight Austrian counties were to be reduced from 47 to 20 musicians. This would but mean that several pieces of music cannot be played any more. This would be like the minister (he is also responsible for sports affairs) mandating that in order to save money football teams were to play with seven players only from now on!

20150519_110825

With this “cost cut argument“ one could suggest that the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra who also cost lots of money (actually good investments for cultural purposes) could be reduced to half their numbers and then “lend“ each other musicians if necessary. It must not be explained that this would be bollocks indeed!

20150519_132428

At a second sympathetic concert in front of the Austrian parliament the petition mentioned further above was handed over to the second president of the Austrian National Assembly who amidst the applause of the people promised to bring these 45,000 signature petition to the National Assembly.   Needless to say politics cannot simply ignore this group of the population who represents about 150,000 voters as well.

20150519_140501

The high-class calm demonstration in front of the Austrian Parliament ended with the traditional march “O du mein Österreich“. We definitely do hope that politics will listen to reason and a compromise can be found before it is too late and the structures of Austrian military music are destroyed.

„Spectator“

… at the Ballhausplatz and in front of Parliament
GenLt-Christoph-Ptak7 A report by Christoph Ptak

More than 800 musicians from all over Austria came together in Vienna on 19 May 2015 for a concert to demonstrate against the planned reduction of military music in the provinces from the current 47 Bands to 20 Bands. Participants in this event, along with supporting fan groups, had not only used their holiday time to be there but had also traveled at their own expense.

After a brief discussion, the rally began at precisely 11 clock with the ‘47er Regimentsmarsch’ by J F Wagner. In the speeches, Federal Minister Andrä Rupprechter, Ombudsman Fichtenbauer and representatives of the Austrian Brass Music Association and the Association of Military Music Lovers, among others, spoke. It was unanimously held that the military band in Austria represents a cultural asset of the first order and contributes significantly to the maintenance of tradition.

The point was made that the musicians who voluntarily take on extended military service later become teachers, band leaders and conductors in their native brass bands and local music schools as they have acquired the music skills and knowledge available in the Military, thereby guaranteeing the high standards that Austrian brass band music has. The Federal Government, and especially B M Klug the Federal Minister of Defence and Sport, were earnestly requested to reconsider the planned reductions.

The following were performed in turn, between thespeeches:

Schneidig vor by J Fucik

Deutschmeister-Regimentsmarsch by W A Jurek

Schönfeld-Marsch by C M Ziehrer

Mir san die Kaiserjager by Mühlberger and

O, du mein Österreich by Ferdinand Preis (after a song by Franz von Suppe)

All were brilliantlypresented and rewarded with correspondingapplause fromthe numerous spectatorsandlisteners.

After taking a break in the Volksgarten, the entire Orchestra then marched the short way over to the Parliament to present the concert program there also. In the speeches made at this time President Kopf of the NR averred that he would work to ensure that, in the direct talks between the proponents of maintaining and those for reducing manning levels due to the general cost-cutting measures in the Armed Forces, a mutually acceptable solution can be found.

A petition of 46,161 signatures for the upkeep of all military music in the provinces with corresponding manpower was presented to President Kopf. On behalf of the Band of the Lazarus Union Chairman Wolfgang Steinhardt, Secretary Christoph Ptak and Sutler Edith Lentner were present as listeners. Our players were Conductor Fritz Lentner (tenor horn), Stoeckl (flugelhorn) and Christian Appinger (tuba).

Christoph Ptak

Further Picture impressions:

20150519_104232

20150519_110108

20150519_110743

20150519_110743a

20150519_110754

20150519_110835

20150519_110840

20150519_114918

20150519_114921

20150519_132037

20150519_132044

20150519_132318

20150519_132612

20150519_132755

20150519_133245 Fritz Lentner

20150519_133248

20150519_140337

20150519_140344

20150519_140641

20150519_140714

DSC06174

Solidaritätsdemo 1

Solidaritätsdemo 2

Solidaritätsdemo 7

Solidaritätsdemo 6

Solidaritätsdemo 5

Solidaritätsdemo 4

Solidaritätsdemo 3

DSC06155