There were two high trumpet towers in the Hohensalzburg erected in 1465 and 1506 from which
there was a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. At night, a huge lantern was hung from
the upper tower and during the day a flag. When people approached the fortress, they were spotted
from the towers and announced with horns and trumpets which signalled the soldiers in the fortress
as well as the townsfolk below of approaching friends or foe. Hence, visitors to Salzburg describe the
deafening roar of gun salvos, trumpets and drums heralding their approach mixed with the heavenly
sounds of concerts in progress. The royal trumpeters also played to entertain, not only from the
trumpet towers, but at the court, in front of the Rathaus, at the church and the convent and in front
of the houses of the elite, all for a reward of coins, while members of the Salzburg court orchestra
played great music in the grand rooms and chambers of the Salzburg court and at festivals.
there was a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. At night, a huge lantern was hung from
the upper tower and during the day a flag. When people approached the fortress, they were spotted
from the towers and announced with horns and trumpets which signalled the soldiers in the fortress
as well as the townsfolk below of approaching friends or foe. Hence, visitors to Salzburg describe the
deafening roar of gun salvos, trumpets and drums heralding their approach mixed with the heavenly
sounds of concerts in progress. The royal trumpeters also played to entertain, not only from the
trumpet towers, but at the court, in front of the Rathaus, at the church and the convent and in front
of the houses of the elite, all for a reward of coins, while members of the Salzburg court orchestra
played great music in the grand rooms and chambers of the Salzburg court and at festivals.
St George's chapel at the fortress Hohensalzburg in Salzburg was built during the reign of Archbishop
Leonard von Keutschach (1495 to 1519) and inaugurated on August 21, 1502. Although during the
Middle ages, many towns, cities, monasteries and cloisters had mechanical organs built into their
gates and towers, the only organ to have survived in its entirety until today is the so-called “castle
horn” organ at Hohensalzburg, the organ which von Keutschach had built in order to communicate
with the inhabitants of the town in a method akin to the use of alpine horns in the valleys. The
“castle horn” woke the townsfolk up at 4AM and signaled their bedtime at 7PM. It also reminded
everyone of the Archbishop's power over them.
Leonard von Keutschach (1495 to 1519) and inaugurated on August 21, 1502. Although during the
Middle ages, many towns, cities, monasteries and cloisters had mechanical organs built into their
gates and towers, the only organ to have survived in its entirety until today is the so-called “castle
horn” organ at Hohensalzburg, the organ which von Keutschach had built in order to communicate
with the inhabitants of the town in a method akin to the use of alpine horns in the valleys. The
“castle horn” woke the townsfolk up at 4AM and signaled their bedtime at 7PM. It also reminded
everyone of the Archbishop's power over them.
In 1672, Archbishop Max Gandolph had a chaplain's house built and attached to St Georg's Chapel
in which there was additional space to house a music school and living quarters for the teacher. The
Choirboys' Institute housed, fed, educated and clothed about sixteen choirboys who sang in the
Cathedral, all at the court's full expense. Here they were taught by court musicians. Through most of
the seventeenth century, there were at least seventy-five to eighty cathedral and court musicians and
about fifty regularly performing vocal music.
in which there was additional space to house a music school and living quarters for the teacher. The
Choirboys' Institute housed, fed, educated and clothed about sixteen choirboys who sang in the
Cathedral, all at the court's full expense. Here they were taught by court musicians. Through most of
the seventeenth century, there were at least seventy-five to eighty cathedral and court musicians and
about fifty regularly performing vocal music.
Mozart was not the only musical figure in Salzburg. The city has a
musical history dating from long before the 1300s when Archbishop
Pilgrim II from Puchheim became the first archbishop to actively
sponsor music and composition. From the 15th century on, music at the
fortress Hohensalzburg drifted down from on high and greeted everyone
from the wealthy patrician to the beggar in rags.
musical history dating from long before the 1300s when Archbishop
Pilgrim II from Puchheim became the first archbishop to actively
sponsor music and composition. From the 15th century on, music at the
fortress Hohensalzburg drifted down from on high and greeted everyone
from the wealthy patrician to the beggar in rags.
Salzburg employed a number of eminent composers through the centuries, among them Heinrich
Finck, Paul Hofhaimer, Heinrich Biber, Georg Muffat, Johann Ernst Eberlin, Giuseppe Francesco
Lolli and of course, Leopold Mozart and later his son Wolfgang. The composition and performance
of cathedral music was the principal mission of court musicians. Positions included a Kapellmeister,
a vice-Kapellmeister, composers and several instrumentalists (violinists, viola players, cellists, double
bassists, keyboard players, oboists, flautists, bassoonists, horn players, trombonist and more). There
were then the singers and the choir, all sometimes constituting over a hundred performers in total.
Finck, Paul Hofhaimer, Heinrich Biber, Georg Muffat, Johann Ernst Eberlin, Giuseppe Francesco
Lolli and of course, Leopold Mozart and later his son Wolfgang. The composition and performance
of cathedral music was the principal mission of court musicians. Positions included a Kapellmeister,
a vice-Kapellmeister, composers and several instrumentalists (violinists, viola players, cellists, double
bassists, keyboard players, oboists, flautists, bassoonists, horn players, trombonist and more). There
were then the singers and the choir, all sometimes constituting over a hundred performers in total.
| Salzburg and Music |
On October 16, 1944 the US bombed the cathedral, hitting the dome which then collapsed. It also
broke open a section of floor, opening up a previously unknown crypt. Above left is an 1682
engraving of the Salzburg Cathedral showing a mass in progress with numerous instrumentalists and
vocalists in various locations around the building. On the right is the damage from US bombs.
broke open a section of floor, opening up a previously unknown crypt. Above left is an 1682
engraving of the Salzburg Cathedral showing a mass in progress with numerous instrumentalists and
vocalists in various locations around the building. On the right is the damage from US bombs.
During the ravages of the Thirty Years War in the
early 1600s, foreign soldiers burned hundreds of
cities, spreading destruction, death and disease
throughout German lands. Salzburg was barely
scathed because of the clever diplomacy of its
Archbishop, Paris Lodron, who, even in the midst
of the neighboring chaos, hosted a consecration of
the newly rebuilt Salzburg Cathedral, the largest
baroque building north of the Alps.
early 1600s, foreign soldiers burned hundreds of
cities, spreading destruction, death and disease
throughout German lands. Salzburg was barely
scathed because of the clever diplomacy of its
Archbishop, Paris Lodron, who, even in the midst
of the neighboring chaos, hosted a consecration of
the newly rebuilt Salzburg Cathedral, the largest
baroque building north of the Alps.
Thanks in part to area farmers who donated money, and the women of
Salzburg who gave up their jewelry, the Dom was repaired and rebuilt
over many years and at great effort. In May 1959, the cathedral was
finally finished, with new bronze doors and a new pulpit. The ancient
frescoes were replaced with modern ones as was the time honored
plaster work, carving and gilding. St. Andräkirche, left, was destroyed
by the air raids and reconstructed elsewhere.
Salzburg who gave up their jewelry, the Dom was repaired and rebuilt
over many years and at great effort. In May 1959, the cathedral was
finally finished, with new bronze doors and a new pulpit. The ancient
frescoes were replaced with modern ones as was the time honored
plaster work, carving and gilding. St. Andräkirche, left, was destroyed
by the air raids and reconstructed elsewhere.
