Poem by A.M. Rilke

Length of complete piece: 1:30

At one of the processing desks there sat a dignified-looking middle-aged soldier. I started a conversation with him and found he was the director of the Bremen Symphony. And I invited him to dinner at our house. I picked up my prisoner (he was not yet discharged) and brought him to the house. We had a fine meal, with wine and everything, and afterwards we listened to a recording of Brahms’ 3rd Symphony. Later, when I took him back to the camp, he said that he felt he was becoming civilized again… About eight months later, when I was back home, I received a letter from him, thanking me again for that evening. He had reestablished the orchestra, and he had opened the season with a playing of Brahms 3rd. That music became indelibly linked to that experience for me.

Length of complete piece: 3:15

Kennedy’s casket was brought back by train from New York to Washington, and she was on that train. The entire funeral was televised, including the train ride (it took four hours), and I was glued to my set all day long… During the ceremony, Leonard Bernstein (a friend of the Kennedy family) conducted the strings of the New York Philharmonic in the Adagietto of Mahler 5th Symphony. As I watched the train roll for four hours, the music would not get out of my mind. Since then, wherever I hear that music I see the train.

Length of complete piece: 1:40

[Wagner’s Festpielhaus] Except for the instruments there is not one piece of metal in the building. He explained how the pit is constructed to project the sound out evenly through the theater. He also told us how all this may come to an end, as an American Army unit was moving into the place. He showed us that they had already moved in their kitchen equipment. I told him not to worry – we would take care of it. And we did go to the Miliary Governor (one had already been installed) and told him what was happening, and that the opera house was an historic landmark and needed to be preserved and protected. He understood that perfectly and said he would attend to the matter immediately. He must have done so, since the building still stands.

Length of complete piece: 2:05

The captain starts to inspect the motorcycle which he wants to take with him. I, being also a documents specialist, go through the dead man’s pockets to find out what I can. He is – was – a 45-year old truck driver, who had a letter from his daughter in his pocket that says how happy she is that he will be home for Christmas. And I am thinking: war is not a nice business.

Length of complete piece: 1:40