about my life, memo in austria

In 1971, I moved to Austria where I found shelter.
In Austria I declared myself an illegal alien. I slept by the Donau canal and ate what I found in the rubbish. Within a short time I was so much acclimated that I found a way of surviving by giving blood and having chemical tests done on my body. Thanks to a Viennese Jew who had survived the Second World War as arefugee I got a work permit (see the photo in my first alien passport in 1973).
 
I worked as unskilled worker (=donkey) in metal and textile mills.
I learned the professions of bricklayer, carpenter and electrician.
Later I worked in an agency as a commercial artist. There I learned the profession of printing.

For 13 years I worked as a printer and made silk-screen prints called Memograph in my own studio.

In Vienna I had private lessons in music and singing.

I exhibited my graphic arts, recited my lyrics in public readings and sang eastern and western music at recitals.

I also worked as editor for several magazines: Kurdisches Informationsblatt, Kultur-Direkt a.s.o.

At the university of Vienna I studied philosophy, orientalism and musicology.

Since 1984 I wrote film scripts, I acted and I worked as stage manager and composer.

 

(The photo shows me one week before I leave my studio.)

Until today I have been singing Kurdish and Turkish folkmusic, Jazz, European classical music and music of the Ottoman court in more than 200 concerts and /or conducted several formations.

In 1986 I founded and conducted the Kurdish Folkmusic Choir in Vienna.

In the same year I also founded and conducted the Big Band of Sabotage Cooperation (18 members).

Since 1990 I have left all the professions I had learned behind and now I only concentrate on music.

In 1991 I founded the Hasret-Ensemble which I still direct.

Currently I work as composer, leader of ensembles, singer (bass) and singing teacher.

 
 

In addition to my activities in musical practice, I continue with my work as musicologist which I had started many years ago.

In 1990 I invented the 53-tone-system which divides the octave into 53 intervals.

Within this system I have built several musical instruments, for example the Maragophone.

Since 1999: Several supports of the Vienna City, Department for the Supporting of the Sciences and Researching.
2001: Researching contractor of the "Austrian Folks Songs Work".
2002: Reserching Supports of the Anniversary Fonds of the Austrian National Bank, of the University Jubilee Fonds of the City Vienna for the Support of Sciences, and of the Supporting the Sciences and Researching Department of the Culture Office of Vienna City.
2002- 2005: Researching contractor of the Institut for Folks Music Researching and Ethno- Musicology, Vienna University for Music and Perfotming Arts.
2006: Director of the "Sercavan, Kurdish Movie Days" in Vienna.
2007: Chairman of the International Symposium "Oriental Occidental Accord, Modi/ Ichoi/ Maqamat" in Salzburg.
I am an Austrian citizen. I have settled here and have found new roots.
 

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about my work

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mail to: mail to: memo schachiner

start: 3 july 2000, up-date: 5 november 2007