Cultivating Knowledge
by Agnes Grossmann
Introduction by Geneviève L. Picard
What is culture? According to some, it encompasses all forms of art and artistic expression; according to others, it is the sum total of human knowledge. More down-to-earth people might suggest that it has something to do with farming...
But culture is probably all of these things and much more. Culture serves to distinguish one society from another, as reflected in our personal interactions, in our cuisine and our climate, in the kind of houses and clothes that suit us, in what gets us angry and what makes us laugh, and of course in our music, dance and painting.
In June 2004, on the occasion of her honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa, conductor Agnes Grossmann spoke to graduates about some important moments in her life. She cited Yehudi Mehuhin on the importance of the arts and discussed the role of women in a traditionally male-dominated world. Above all, she explained for her young audience her vision of culture from the perspective of one who lives for and through music.
The following is an excerpt from Agnes Grossmann’s address at convocation on June 8, 2004.
I am profoundly moved today to receive this great honour from the University of Ottawa, an institution that has played a significant role in my life. Not only did the University give me the opportunity to expand my horizons and start a new career, but it also provided a bridge to my roots in Vienna—pianist Cynthia Floyd, a professor and director of the Department of Music, was my colleague in Vienna when we both were studying piano there.
I started a very promising career as a pianist playing in Europe, U.S.A. and Japan which was abruptly stopped through an injury of the right hand. After months of agony between hope and despair, it became evident that no specialist could help me, and I took the daring decision to become a conductor. Daring, because in Vienna at that time both major orchestras of the city did not allow women to play in their ranks, let alone be conducted by one! After going back to university to graduate in my new field, I had few possibilities to conduct in Vienna and became Assistant Conductor of the Jeunesses Choir, where I prepared works for prominent conductors like Leonard Bernstein and others. So, when the position at University of Ottawa to conduct the orchestra and choir became vacant, I accepted to audition. I also was asked to set-up the ear-training program for the Music Department.
The University of Ottawa was the first step on my career path of orchestra conductor. It was here that, for the first time, I was able to watch the fruits of my efforts develop from rehearsal to performance. My work was wide-ranging and exhausting, but I was encouraged by a wonderful working environment. The students had a passion for musical excellence, and some of the concerts we gave were, I think, remarkable. Music critic Jean-Jacques Vlasselaer wrote:
"Can a woman forge a career as a conductor, the last and most absolute male bastion, which recently has become the most macho form of artistic expression, the very symbol of musical power? Physical strength has nothing to do the force of musical interpretation. Power springs from a conductor’s musical vision, concept of the work and general musical knowledge. So male or female, what does it matter? A talent like Agnes Grossmann has everything it takes to supplant macho time-beaters and return music to its proper place in the spotlight. Just like Furtwängler and Kubelik..."
So, my first message today is directed mainly to our female graduates. A woman in a leading position, need not demonstrate aggressive power, but will assert herself through her competence, strength of conviction, her creative energies, enthusiasm and motivation, but also through her capacity for listening and collaborating with others.
The time for democracy in leadership has come!
Today, you are celebrating the crowning success of an important part of your life by receiving your degree under the guidance of the University. This will now take you on a new and autonomous road where this knowledge will be applied and transformed insuring your future in the world.
Let us think for a moment not only what this degree means to you, but also what you understand by education generally. Is it just a collection of knowledge and facts or is it also a means to bring you closer to ethical or artistic values or perhaps even further, as a search for your inner self and life?
The second part of my message is about the wonderful world of the arts and its effect on the human being. A work of art, like all creation in nature, be it a tree, a flower or an animal is a combination of many forces in the service of creation. To experience this combination in its totality is one of the most important goals in the evolution of mankind. Experiencing works of art fosters integral vision and listening. We are thus participating in the art of creation, unleashing in us hope and joy, which is essential for a creative life and peaceful interaction between human beings.
The following quotation from the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin may help you grasp my central message:
"You are probably wondering in what way the arts represent hope. It relates to the inherent discipline of art and the beneficial influence of artistic and manual activity, with or without tools. What’s involved is a body, in the case of a singer, dancer, actor or mime, or materials and tools, in the case of a violinist, sculptor or painter. Thus the truth and beauty of a Leonardo da Vinci drawing, a Beethoven symphony, or any other piece of art or craft, resides in the combination of its various elements and tiny modifications in their corresponding gravity, attractiveness, rejection, mass, weight, form and speed. And, in a great work, these elements reveal, juxtapose and recreate in their own particular way the ideal image of truth and beauty. I do not doubt for an instant that art will play a major and pragmatic role in the salvation of our souls. This is my faith, firmly rooted in the heritage transmitted to us through Michelango’s "Moses," Rembrandt’s "Night Watch," the Cathedral at Chartres, Bach’s B minor Mass, as well as Picasso’s "Pierrot" and Bartok’s string quartets. All Men are Artists."
To conclude, may your acquired knowledge, which sadly is often used as a weapon against others, be nourished by the world of arts and culture. And may your human evolution unfold like the sounds of music, which open our ears and touch our hearts. We will then be, in the truest meaning of the word, "on the same wavelength" and your professional development will permit you to contribute to the harmony of the world.
It is in this sense that my best wishes accompany you!
Agnes Grossmann is an internationally renowned artist, choral director and orchestra conductor. At spring convocation in June, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa.
Geneviève L. Picard is a freelance journalist, who graduated from the University of Ottawa.