OF COURSE THERE WAS AN EMPEROR – BACK THEN.
Almost invisible though to the public, well to the “normal” people, as he reigned a big house and could not be everywhere after all. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert – all of them resting on his shoulders. Carrying them safely through rough times.
AND OF COURSE THERE WAS A COURT AS WELL.
Little kings and queens (only if absolutely necessary of course) and servants making their lives bearable. Music would belittle those who deserved it, anyway, which was – sadly enough – not the point though as they were mighty. Mighty due to a certain title, which would give them special rights nobody else had. And a halo for free.
There were exceptions. Great musicians, who did not care. And they made the whole difference, as music is stronger than everything else. And will always be.
THE SERVANTS
Making a mistake – be it in class or on stage – was not really an option, at least not a good one. More like criticizing a dictator in public or even worse, doubting him as a teacher, putting a strain on his immaculate reputation. After all he or she WAS the best (in whatever he thought) and he would not be worth anything less than the very best.
Students would either leave (the quick ones) or suffer while developing a strategy in order to not be inflicted too much (the very strong ones). Of course they would not believe that it was only for their best to get prepared that way for the bad world outside. The ones who only suffered without fighting back were ruined. And of course it was their fault. Just not good enough.
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Sometimes retirement solved the problem.
And in rare cases the teacher passed away. Who knows if they had ever realized what music was all about.
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The “old ” University. Gone. For ever. Hopefully.
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