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PAN PIPES Spring 2019 17 A World of Music At left, Orff 's studio, maintained after his death in 1982. Above, the kitchen stove designed after similar stoves Orff and his wife admired in Greece. Connected by a roofed, concrete walkway, the structures are each unique. e renovation in the former studio building, which is very rustic inside, is now complete and houses modern offices for the small administrative staff. On a clothes hanger on the lower level, is the short unconventional polka-dotted wedding dress of the fourth Mrs. Orff. e family house, which is more formal, is still being renovated. In its "blue" room, the composer and his wife entertained their personal friends and the press. e kitchen has a special stove similar to the ones the couple saw and liked in Greece. Displayed on wall racks are pieces of local colorful Dießen pottery. As is traditional in regional farmhouses and restaurants, there is a special farmer's room, the Herrgottswinkel (or "corner for God"). On the second floor was the small bedroom for Luise's two sons. Orff 's only child, his daughter Godela Orff-Büchtemann from his first marriage and of whom he had custody, never lived here. ose interested in learning more about this relationship must be fluent in German to read her biography, Mein Vater und ich: Erinnerungen an Carl Orff. In the former attic on the third and top floor, are two modern apartments for invited guest writers and researchers. Unfortunately, I didn't qualify! But I was thrilled with the spectacular view from the large windows. On a clear day, you cannot see forever, but you can gaze at Lake Ammer below in the distance. Visible farther away, high above on a hill, is a Benedictine pilgrimage site, the Baroque Andechs Abbey Church that has Orff 's grave inside. When Carl resided in Dießen, he also had farm animals. Behind the studio building is a Bavarian farmer's garden reminiscent of Orff 's garden many years ago. Growing today are flowers along with organic potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, grapes, pears, onions — and delicious, plump, juicy raspberries, which I carefully picked and sampled from the vine! Aer Liselotte died, all of the items in the studio were examined, catalogued and restored as necessary. Evidently, mildew was the main culprit to blame for the damage to the pages in hundreds of books and scores on his well- organized library shelves. e intact studio helps one envision where the routine of this composer and educator began early in the morning. Aer working a while, he would have breakfast in his residence and then return back to his studio where he studied scores, composed, and held business meetings with luminaries, such as Maestro Herbert von Karajan. When composing, he first wrote the notes in pencil and then went over them in ink before using an eraser to eliminate original pencil marks. By his large desk near a big window above the radiator, a variety of mineral pieces line the windowsill. Personal items, including a basket of his pipes, are on his desk. ere are two pianos in the room. He learned to play on the upright one from his mother's house. He used the grand piano to write Carmina Burana. Sadly, the instrument cannot be played anymore because he'd employed its sides as a percussion instrument. Strewn around the room are some instruments, including drums, (which he and his wife acquired from their travels) and are important to his teaching method for children to play. Before returning to the train station, at a table on that walkway nestled between the two contrasting Orff buildings, I was served a slice of Zwetschgendatschi (or plum cake). At that moment and for no apparent reason, I mentally heard the loud opening melody of Carmina Burana. I knew in a heartbeat that if I had to choose to see only one building on the estate, I'd pick the one with his studio, the perfect time capsule he gave the musical world! During my visit, the private Carl Orff Museum was open only by request; I am very happy mine was granted! e Carl-Orff- Foundation is in the process of setting up a modern museum in the Carl Orff dwelling. is new Carl Orff Museum with regular opening hours is scheduled to be open by Carl Orff 's 125th birthday, July 10th, 2020. Visit https://www.orff.de/en/institutions/carl-orff-foundation/

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