What's the difference between Germany and Austria?

[Bob]

Besides the obvious -- different countries, one went to war....

Culturally, are they the same?  Any significant differences?

When I hear either one, I'm thinking the same thing.  When some says a composer is Austrian, I'm thinking "German, same thing."  But is it?

[indutrial]

Erm.....

en.wikipedia.org

Both nations historically spoke the same language (German), so in that sense sometimes an Austrian (in many cases, a Viennese) composer might be regarded as German. The German nation we know today and who fought France and England in both world wars was originally Prussia and several other small German-speaking states located in northern European east of France. Austria was another German speaking confederation of lands that later became the Austro-Hungarian Empire and basically controlled the southern half of central/eastern Europe, extending from Prague and Cracow in the North to the Adriatic Sea in the South. The Hapsburgs controlled it for the most part. The term 'German' when used to describe music likely refers to the language, regardless of whether it was a composer working in Berlin (Germany) or Vienna (Austria).

Keep in mind that Austria-Hungary was the country that "started" the First World War, when a Serbian radical killed Austria's arch-duke. The entire so-called 'powder keg' was within Austrian borders. After WWII, Austria shrank down to less than half the size of the H-A empire, splitting into what would later be called Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and German Austria. When both wars were declared, Austria and Germany were allied (before the second world war, Germans simply walked into Austria and annexed it back into a 'Greater German nation'). In both wars, the Germans certainly fought more voraciously, since they were actively industrialized and spurred on by imperialist propaganda. Both times, Austria was simply an old-money tag-along who were likely after a piece of their former Hapsburg glory.

[Bob]

Hey, I don't want to think.  I just want a basic answer.  General, people response.

So you're saying there is no difference?  That's what I'm getting out of that post.  Austria is a tag along.

[db05]

Uhm, different orchestras? Different-tasting sausages? 

[Bob]

Yeah.  Significant differences. 

I was thinking Germany missed out when Austian was named the "Vienesse school" but I've heard it called the German school too. 

[db05]

Anyone who's watched Sound of Music would conclude that they're different countries now, though.

Hm, is the landler an Austrian dance, German, or both?

What I find more puzzling is the difference between East and West Germany, and how they decide to be together or apart. Note that North and South Korea are separate countries. And some countries have several states, like the US. Or the EU, how does that work?

[Bob]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071024161700AA6LHQ6

[csharp_minor]

Hm, is the landler an Austrian dance, German, or both?

Its an Austrian folk dance dating back from the early 1600s.

[timothy42b]

In Austria they play beat two early.

In Germany they don't.

(but I've only lived in Germany, so there might be more to it that I don't know.) 

[birba]

In Austria they play beat two early.

In Germany they don't.

(but I've only lived in Germany, so there might be more to it that I don't know.) 

?! Please explain.

[birba]

I don't know whether it was Salzburg or Austria in general, but when I was there, light years ago, I found it MUCH more controlled and, how can I put it, proper?.  Germany was fun.  Really fun.  But then again, I was only in Munich.

[pianowolfi]

A German and an Austrian are facing a serious problem. What's the difference between their reactions?
The German says "The situation is serious but not hopeless"
The Austrian says: The situation is hopeless but not serious"

 

[Bob]

?! Please explain.

Waltzes.  The Vienesse lilt.

[birba]

A German and an Austrian are facing a serious problem. What's the difference between their reactions?
The German says "The situation is serious but not hopeless"
The Austrian says: The situation is hopeless but not serious"

 

Interesting...