The roots of the „Wind Orchestra of the Viennese Gasworks (Vienna Gas
Company)” go back to the year of 1920. Just when our country was recovering
from the after-effects of the First World War an “Orchestra of the Viennese
Municipal Gasworks” was founded by colleagues named Adalbert Ploschnitznik and Karl Simonek.
When some colleagues called “Gaserer” returned home
from the Army they met in their leisure time to play some instruments. They
started with a tiny “saloon orchestra”. But after a little while they met
with unanimous approval, were supported by colleagues and management and had
been engaged for various events. With rising popularity the number of members
was increasing and very soon a Wind Band and a Symphony Orchestra was
presented to the public. |
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Two of the greatest awards were
of course the first price at the “windband music competition of the municipal
orchestras in Vienna” and the awarding of an “Golden Awards of the Vienna
City Hall” by the Viennese mayor Prof. Dr. Helmut Zilk. Concert journeys to various
places in Austria and abroad like for example to Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart,
Dusseldorf, Munich (Germany); Bilbao (Spain); Moscow (Russia) and Skopje
(Macedonia) will be unforgotten. However the “Wind-Orchestra of the Viennese
Gasworks” became an essential part of Vienna’s cultural life. |
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Hard work and permanent
practice is necessary to perform perfect high standard concerts. That means a
rehearsal once a week after work (on Wednesdays starting 5 p.m.). At this,
the repertory got tremendously big and various in the course of the years. It
reaches from march, polka and waltz to the modern music like swing to the
serious music of overture and opera. However, the management of the orchestra
has made it for the task to cultivate the Viennese music particularly. Also
experts estimate the quality of the music, how numerous broadcast recordings
and television appearances as well as two records and four CD´s prove since
1972. From the crowd of the musicsection a wind
choir, a dance orchestra, a “Schrammelquartett”, a
wood-wind-player-ensemble and a little "Bohemian" brass band also
recruits. Only the string orchestra must cancel its job due to missing
musicians. |
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Although the stock of this pure
amateur orchestra seems protected today, the „musicsection“ nevertheless suffers from shortage of young people. Many
of the practicing members belong to it for decades because of the feeling of
solidarity but the younger musicians are largely missing! |
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Contact
Address:
Blasorchester
der Wiener Netze
Erdbergstrasse 236
A-1110 Vienna
Austria
For any further information please send
us an email: Blasorchester Wiener Netze