Monument to Carinthia's secret anthem: The lake is already honored!

Monument to Carinthia's secret anthem: The lake is already honored!

A celebratory inauguration took place in Velden last Saturday: a monument was erected in honor of the popular Carinthian song “Is already still around the lake” by Günther Mittergradnegger. The ceremony took place in the presence of the artist's family and selected guests. This gives Carinthia's secret national anthem a proper place in the heart of the community.

Culinary connection to home

The song, which is closely linked to the “Carinthian soul” and the longing for the region’s picturesque landscape, has always accompanied many Carinthians. “Is already quiet around the lake” was created in 1956 when the theological folklorist and painter Gerhard Glawischnig wrote the text, inspired by the surroundings of Lake Faak. The melody, which quickly found its way into people's hearts, was composed by Günther Mittergradnegger, who was also a choir director and had a great fondness for Alpine folk songs. The two artists had a close, decades-long friendship and intensive collaboration.

Folk music in transition

But what makes folk music in Carinthia special? The region is often referred to as the “land of singers”, even though folk music is sometimes less well known there. This perception could be due to biased research approaches. However, traditional festivals such as church days, weddings and garden parties are still important occasions where the best musicians are hired.

Over time, the musical landscape has changed and is enriched by external influences. In the past, the musical line-up with violin, dulcimer and bassettl dominated, while today wind instruments and smaller formations, such as the combination of clarinet and Styrian harmonica, are particularly popular. Popular ensembles such as the Wietinger Trio or the Buchbauer Trio contribute to the diverse cultural scene.

A significant part of this cultural heritage is the song “Is already still around the lake”, which is now widely regarded as the Carinthian song par excellence. Folk music culture not only has a tradition, but also a future - supported by the school education of young talents at conservatories and music schools in Carinthia.

The inauguration of the monument in Velden is not only a homage to a melody that touches many hearts, but also a symbol of the lively folk culture that always lives on in Carinthia. The return to our own music and home sounds shows once again how valuable our roots are.

For further details about the creation of the song you can see the detailed description hebu-music.com read up. The importance of folk music in Carinthia is also discussed in detail volkskultur-kaernten.at illuminated.