Austria's Pop-Folk Culture: Presence And Influence

Pop and folk music are both prevalent in Austrian culture. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Vienna was a hub for musical innovation, with composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johann Strauss Jr. being drawn to the city by the patronage of the Habsburgs. This classical music era cemented Vienna's status as the European capital of classical music.

During the Baroque period, Slavic and Hungarian folk music influenced Austrian music, and the lute was a popular instrument. Yodeling, a form of throat singing that developed in the Alps, is also a notable part of Austrian folk music.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Austrian pop music has gained recognition, with artists such as Falco, Bilderbuch, and Wanda achieving commercial success. The Austrian pop scene is diverse, with various independent labels and genres represented, including rock, electronic, and indie pop.

Folk dancing is also an integral part of Austrian culture, with dances like Schuhplattler, Ländler, polka, and waltz being commonly associated with the country. Folk dance festivals in Austria typically follow a set sequence, starting with an opening dance, followed by a welcoming speech, blocks of waltzes with breaks in between, and ending with a special dance or goodbye song.

Folk music and dance

Austrian folk dance festivals follow a set sequence: an opening dance, a welcoming speech, waltzes in blocks with breaks in between, and a final special dance, often with a goodbye song. Folk dances in Vienna tend to have four long sets of dances with long breaks and figure dancing in between, while other parts of Austria have a larger number of shorter blocks with more frequent and shorter breaks.

The Austrian folk dance movement is rooted in the research and collection of dances from rural traditions at the end of the 19th century. The dances were not only preserved but also taught to younger generations, saving them from extinction. The focal point of Austrian folk dance is not performances by professionals but rather the gathering of people from different age groups and ability levels to dance together. The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Volkstanz (Federal Association of Austrian Folk Dance) works to research and creatively pass on the knowledge of folk dance.

In terms of folk music, Vienna has been a significant centre of musical innovation, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, when composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn were drawn to the city by the patronage of the Habsburgs. During the Baroque period, Slavic and Hungarian folk music influenced Austrian music. Yodelling, or "juchizn" as it is called in Austria, is a form of throat singing that also developed in the Alps.

The most popular form of modern Austrian folk music is Viennese Schrammelmusik, played with an accordion and a double-necked guitar. Modern performers of this style include Roland Neuwirth, Karl Hodina, and Edi Reiser.

Pop-rock and electronic music

In the pop-rock genre, one of the most famous Austrian artists is Falco, whose song "Rock Me Amadeus" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. Other notable pop-rock artists and bands include Christina Stürmer, SheSays, Cornerstone, Wanda, Bilderbuch, and Soap&Skin, who gained international recognition for her work on the Netflix series Dark. The band Opus also achieved worldwide chart success.

Austria has a thriving electronic music scene, with artists such as Parov Stelar, Bernhard Fleischmann, Kruder and Dorfmeister, and Elektro Guzzi. Drum 'n' Bass is also popular, with internationally successful artists like Camo & Krooked, Disaszt, Ill.Skillz, and Mefjus. Christian Fennesz is another well-known Austrian electronic musician.

In addition to these contemporary genres, Austria has a rich history of musical innovation, particularly in classical music. Vienna, the capital city, has long been a centre of musical excellence, attracting composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Classical music

The rich aristocracy of the time played a significant role in fostering this environment by financing musicians and hiring composers to perform in their luxurious palaces. Mozart and Haydn, for instance, spent considerable time in the court of the aristocrat Eszterházy family. During this period, composers gained wider respect, and their societal status improved. The works of these "Vienna Masters" elevated music from mere background entertainment to respected high art within two decades.

The 19th century witnessed Vienna leading the way in developing the role of music in society and establishing its institutional framework. The continent's first conservatories were founded during this time, including the Vienna Conservatory (later the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), which produced renowned musicians and composers like Gustav Mahler. The establishment of orchestras composed entirely of professional musicians, such as the Vienna Philharmonic, further enriched the classical music scene.

The city of Salzburg, with its gorgeous baroque old town, is also intrinsically linked to classical music as the birthplace of W. A. Mozart. The city's streets, squares, and institutions bear his name, and landmarks like the Mozarteum Salzburg, a world-renowned music education institution, pay homage to his legacy.

Austria continues to preserve its rich classical music heritage through numerous festivals, opera performances, balls, and concerts. The Vienna New Year's Concert, held annually since 1939, is considered one of the most important classical music events globally, featuring works by the Strauss dynasty and other Viennese composers. The Vienna Opera Ball, a luxurious and world-famous event, has been a staple of the city's cultural calendar since 1814, with only brief interruptions.

The country's musical prowess extends beyond Vienna and Salzburg. The Bregenz Festival, held on Lake Constance in Vorarlberg, offers a unique blend of high-quality musical performances and picturesque settings. The Donauinselfest, a massive open-air contemporary music concert series in Vienna, attracts nearly three million people and is the world's largest free concert.

Yodelling

In the Alps, yodelling was a long-time rural tradition used by herders to call their flocks or communicate between villages. It later became popular in the 1830s as entertainment in theatres and music halls. Yodelling is still a major feature of folk music from Switzerland, Austria, and Southern Germany, and can be heard in many contemporary folk songs.

In Austria, yodelling was called "juchizn" or "juchazn". It was used to communicate across mountains and involved the use of non-lexical syllables and yells. Summer yodelling workshops are held in the state of Salzburg, where participants can learn different types of singing, such as how to "ho-lo-di-yo", as well as breathing techniques and the history of yodelling.

Opera

The Vienna State Opera is a state institution that supports Austria's premier cultural home, the Vienna Opera House, one of the most opulent in the world. The opera house accommodates Austrians on a budget by providing standing room on graded aisles with rails to support viewers during a long opera.

The Salzburg Festival, which takes place annually, and the Bregenz Festival, held every summer on Lake Constance in Vorarlberg, are two notable festivals that attract opera lovers with the highest expectations.

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