Switzerland: the Largest Country in the World
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Title: Switzerland: The Largest Country in the World Author(s): Leonard Cecil Source: Cecil, L. (1990, Winter). Switzerland: The largest country in the world. The Quarterly, 1(4), pp. 54-65. (Reprinted with permission in Visions of Research in Music Education, 16(1), Summer, 2010). Retrieved from http://www-usr.rider.edu/~vrme/ It is with pleasure that we inaugurate the reprint of the entire seven volumes of The Quarterly Journal of Music Teaching and Learning. The journal began in 1990 as The Quarterly. In 1992, with volume 3, the name changed to The Quarterly Journal of Music Teaching and Learning and continued until 1997. The journal contained articles on issues that were timely when they appeared and are now important for their historical relevance. For many authors, it was their first major publication. Visions of Research in Music Education will publish facsimiles of each issue as it originally appeared. Each article will be a separate pdf file. Jason D. Vodicka has accepted my invitation to serve as guest editor for the reprint project and will compose a new editorial to introduce each volume. Chad Keilman is the production manager. I express deepest thanks to Richard Colwell for granting VRME permission to re-publish The Quarterly in online format. He has graciously prepared an introduction to the reprint series. Switzerland: The Largest Country in the World By Leonard Cecil Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel Abstract: Switzerland's widely diver- populations, such as Bern and Freiburg, but gent geography and many cultures most are more or less of one language. The allow the music educators of the language spoken by the greatest percentage country to exchange ideas with their of the population is Gelman, but as in neighbors while preserving rich local Germany, one doesn't speak the "real" traditions. In this article, the author language, but rather a dialect-and there are interviews the directors of the divi- over 25 different dialects in Switzerland. sions of the Musik-Akademie der Stadt My wife, who is from Bern, has trouble Basel. The directors, in discussing understanding most people from Wallis or their education, music, and aspirations, Berneroberland. It was common, not too together represent the nationalistic long ago, to hear of disownments within mix as well as the spirit of cooperation families because the daughter from Basel that is characteristic of Switzerland. wanted to marry someone from Zurich-60 miles by car and 212 light years by philoso- phy away. Because the people of each area o quote from George Mike's Switzer- take great pains to guard their own culture land for Beginners, there is a saying and traditions, one can get the impression T that any Bishop of Chur should that there is as much difference between the possess three qualifications: people of Bern and those of Geneva as there 1) he must be a Roman Catholic; is between Russians and Bolivians. 2) he must be a consecrated priest; and This extreme regionalism and cultural 3) he must be a native of Chur or, at least, diversity make it difficult to describe the of the Canton of Graubunden. Swiss music education system. On the one Bur, people like to add, the first two hand, each area feels strongly about local requirements might be ignored. To under- pride, culture, and tradition. On the other stand this humor is to appreciate the impor- hand, areas are subject to nationalistic tance of regionalism in Swiss culture. Swit- influences from the neighboring countries- zerland is a small country-from the German France to the west, Germany to the north, border in Basel in the north to the Italian Austria to the east, and Italy to the south. border in the south is a drive of only three Then, although the Swiss are not quite as hours. Switzerland exists not so much as a mobile as Americans, there is a bit of re- country but as a confederation of states or gional mixing: German Swiss going to the cantons (Kanton in German). These cantons Italian-speaking region, Italian Swiss going to are roughly divided into four groups based the French-speaking region, and so on. upon the four official languages in Switzer- Consequently, in order to present an idea land: German, French, Italian and Romansch of what a music education facility in Switzer- Can archaic gypsy-type language with Ger- land is like, I selected the Musik-Akademie man, Italian, Latin and other influences, der Stadt Basel (City Music Academy of spoken mainly in the Canton Graubunden). Basel) as a good example. This choice was There are some dual-lingual cantons with made for the following reasons: French-speaking and German-speaking 1) Basel is bordered by Germany on the 54 Tbe Quarterly north and by France on the west. One can sikschule start around 1:00 p.m. and teach literally start driving at the French/Swiss until 6:00 or 8:00 p.rn.). The Musikschule border in St. Louis, drive through Basel in 15 offers an exciting and unusual exception: minutes, and cross the Swiss-German border Adults can also, in limited numbers, learn an at Lorrach, passing through three countries in instrument, and take voice lessons, theory, 15 minutes! Thus Basel is a perfect example and other classes. Instruction is mainly of the curious nationalistic mixture, but it individual. After students of the Musikschule also possesses a fierce "Basel-ness." In short, reach a certain level of proficiency, they may in many respects the city is typically Swiss. play in one of many ensembles at the Mu- 2) I am employed at the Musik-Akadernie sikschule or in the community. and know the music education situation in Grundkurs (introduction to music) is a this area, or at least who to ask about it, a bit general music class taught in the Basel public better than others. schools but administered through the Mu- Die Musik-Akademie der Stadt sikschule of the Musik-Akademie. This Basel-An Introduction subdivision of the Musikschule, headed by Heinz Fuglistaler, is actively involved in The Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel is a training its own teachers at the Konservato- multifunctional institution directed by the rium for work in the public schools. The noted Swiss composer, conductor, and program is meant to supplant the rather musicologist, Rudolf Kelterborn. The Musik- sketchy singing classes of earlier days and Akademie is similar to others in Zurich or also to steer the children toward instrumental Bern, but is conceived as a fairly complete and vocal instruction at the Musikschule after music education complex. The local music school hours. schools cater to the music education of The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, headed children alone; local conservatories cater to by Dr. Peter Reidemeister, is one of the few other age groups and expectations. schools in the world focused on the study of The Konservatorium of the Musik- early music on original instruments. It offers Akadernie, which is headed by Gerhard students at the undergraduate and postgradu- Hildenbrand, is, as its name implies, con- ate levels specialized studies in areas such as cerned with the preparation of students for theory, history, instrumentation, ornamenta- the music profession. Degrees are offered in tion, and ensembles of all kinds, from the a wide range of subjects such as orchestral Middle Ages to the Middle Romantic. and keyboard instruments, voice, electronic Inasmuch as it was impossible to speak music, composition, theory, and, of course, with all of the directors at once, all were education. In Switzerland, the majority of given more or less the same questions, with students who enter music teaching do so as some changes for departmental differences, private studio teachers because instrumental of course. These were then answered in instruction is not normally offered in the individual interviews. In some cases, ques- public schools. tions were expanded and expounded upon, There is also a special degree program at and in other cases skipped over, depending the Musik-Akademie for public school music upon the individual interests of those inter- teachers. Most of these teachers teach in viewed and the direction of the interview. programs that are similar to general music or For organizational purposes, however, this music appreciation, but in many places are article is presented as a round-table discus- still called "singing" classes. Often the sion. If it seems that not everyone answered courses do consist of singing only. all the questions, this is not necessarily the The Musikschule, another part of the case; the answer might be found elsewhere. Musik-Akademie and headed by Sylvia I would like to take this opportunity to once Eichenwald, cooperates with local public again thank Ms. Eichenwald and Messrs. schools by offering instrumental/vocal music Kelterborn, Hildenbrand, and Fuglistaler and to students after school hours (which are Dr. Reidemeister for their cooperation. flexible, so that most teachers at the Mu- L. c.: Would you please explain briefly Volume 1, Number 4 55 your own musical training? What did you during this time that I, for the first time, find to be generally useful or useless in your really learned how to work. training? How has musical training changed Generally speaking, I enjoyed all aspects of since then? my training immensely. I found both courses Kelterborn: I was always certain that I of study (flute and theory) extremely well would be a musician. I could read music balanced and enjoyable. I particularly before I could write. Of course there were enjoyed the orchestral playing, chamber times when I wanted to be a train engineer music, etc. There was then perhaps more of or a farmer, but mostly a musician.