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Gasping for air, we find ourselves struggling!

Book suggestions from the editorial teams in Vienna and Zurich's ZEIT that will keep you on the edge of your seat

Shedding Panting Excessively
Shedding Panting Excessively

Gasping for air, we find ourselves struggling!

In the remote Vorarlberg village at the beginning of the 19th century, a musical prodigy named Johannes Elias Alder lived a life shrouded in mystery and rejection. Robert Schneider tells this captivating story, painting a picture of a village where piety was merely a facade, hiding the brutality that reigned within.

Johannes Elias Alder, gifted in the art of organ playing, remained undiscovered by the villagers due to his strangeness. His yellow-tinted eyes set him apart, causing the community to reject him. Despite his extraordinary talent, the villagers were unable to appreciate or make much of Johannes Elias.

The mountainous world surrounding the village was merciless and oppressive, mirroring the hardness of the people within. The heavy nights and the ever-closer slope weighed heavily on Johannes Elias, causing him distress. Nature offered no protection or respite for him.

Music served as a means of escape for Johannes Elias, a way to find solace in a world that seemed to reject him. However, it also isolated him further, creating a barrier between him and his own life. His love for his cousin Elsbeth remained unrequited, adding to his sense of isolation.

The village's piety was a mere facade, masking the violence that pervaded the community. Whispers of incest and reports of violence within the village homes were common. Despite the harshness of his surroundings, Johannes Elias's love for music never wavered.

Regrettably, the search results do not provide information about the name of the composer who told the story of Johannes Elias Alder or the year in which this story is set. Nevertheless, his tale serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by those who are different and the power of art to transcend even the most oppressive of circumstances.

Johannes Elias Alder's life was a testament to the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity. Despite being an outsider, rejected by his mother and the villagers, he found solace in his music. His story continues to resonate, reminding us of the power of art and the importance of embracing those who are different.

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