In this issue of mdw Magazine, you’ll find an extensive photo series that captures some of the most magical moments from the various celebrations held to mark 200 years of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. The ongoing series of special bicentennial events continues this autumn with numerous projects both research-related and artistic. On the online platform spiel|mach|t|raum, October will see publication of a major article entitled women* at the mdw, 1938–1945 that will shed light on cases of expulsion and persecution at the university and the present issue of mdw Magazine contains some initial insights into this grim and consequential chapter of the mdw’s history. Furthermore, the marked shift in the roles played by women musicians in the Austrian jazz scene is being traced by the Gina Schwarz PANNONICA-Project, which will kick off the new academic year with workshops, discussions, and a concert series at Porgy & Bess.
This issue’s Special section provides an introduction to the diverse facets of bass: its significance in music theory and composition, some far-from-typical bass instruments taught and studied at the mdw, and how bass frequencies affect our bodies. This bass focus is rounded out by a portrait of the legendary double bassist and Vienna Philharmonic member Ludwig Streicher, who also had a long and influential teaching career at the mdw.
Other artists featured in this issue include director and screenwriter Kitty Kino, one of the first women to graduate from Film Academy Vienna’s directing programme, as well as a group of Max Reinhardt Seminar students and recent graduates who talked to mdw Magazine about the issues they confront in their chosen profession. Just how significant a role the inclusion of compulsory coursework in improvisation and creative music-making plays in the new curricula for instrumental majors is demonstrated by an article that sketches out the development of improvisation as such and reports on initial experiences from the past academic year.
And this autumn, we’re quite eagerly looking forward to once again cooperating with contemporary music festival Wien Modern, at which the mdw will be represented in challenging, high-calibre programmes: Daniel Ender spoke with festival head Bernhard Günther about young players in contemporary music and related topics. I wish you an interesting read!
