The von Trapp The von Trapp FamilyFamily

A history of the A history of the members of the family members of the family

that inspired that inspired The The Sound of MusicSound of Music

The Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music and the and the von Trapp Familyvon Trapp Family

The play and movie The play and movie The The Sound of MusicSound of Music has become has become one of the most beloved one of the most beloved musicals of all time, and the musicals of all time, and the story and characters are all story and characters are all based on the members of the based on the members of the von Trapp family. Both the von Trapp family. Both the movie and the play are in movie and the play are in English, but may have never English, but may have never been written if stage director been written if stage director Vincent J. Donehue had not Vincent J. Donehue had not seen the German film seen the German film Die Die Trapp-FamilieTrapp-Familie and and Die Trapp-Die Trapp-Familie in AmerikaFamilie in Amerika, which , which inspired him to write the play.inspired him to write the play.

Maria KutscheraMaria Kutschera

Maria Augusta Kutschera, Maria Augusta Kutschera, the heroine of the heroine of The Sound The Sound of Musicof Music, was born on , was born on January 26, 1905 on a train enroute to Vienna just before midnight. At . At the age of two, she was the age of two, she was left in the care of an left in the care of an elderly cousin of the family elderly cousin of the family after her mother died and after her mother died and her father left to travel the her father left to travel the world.world.

The Religious MariaThe Religious Maria

While the movie and play While the movie and play portrays Maria as a devote portrays Maria as a devote Catholic, in reality she was Catholic, in reality she was raised to be a socialist and raised to be a socialist and atheist. She was bitterly cynical atheist. She was bitterly cynical toward all religions, until she toward all religions, until she wandered in to a church, wandered in to a church, expecting to see a Bach concert, expecting to see a Bach concert, and instead listened to Father and instead listened to Father Kronseder preach. Afterward, Kronseder preach. Afterward, she met with Kronseder and was she met with Kronseder and was forever changed.forever changed.

Deep DevotionDeep Devotion

Maria became a part of a Maria became a part of a convent, and was so deeply convent, and was so deeply devoted that it took her devoted that it took her away from virtually all the away from virtually all the outdoor activities she once outdoor activities she once thrived on. The lack of fresh thrived on. The lack of fresh air caused her health to air caused her health to begin to fail, and the begin to fail, and the decision was made to send decision was made to send her to the home of the her to the home of the navel captain Georg von navel captain Georg von Trapp.Trapp.

The GovernessThe GovernessIn the movie, Maria In the movie, Maria becomes the becomes the governess for all governess for all seven of Captain von seven of Captain von Trapp’s children. Trapp’s children. However, in reality, However, in reality, she was only to take she was only to take care of only one of care of only one of the children: a the children: a daughter, Maria, daughter, Maria, who was bedridden who was bedridden with rheumatic fever. with rheumatic fever.

A Happy EndingA Happy Ending

Much of the rest of Much of the rest of The Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music is is history. Maria Augusta history. Maria Augusta Kutschera became Kutschera became Maria Kutschera von Maria Kutschera von Trapp on November Trapp on November 26, 1927. She and the 26, 1927. She and the captain would go on to captain would go on to have three children to have three children to add to the von Trapp add to the von Trapp legacy. legacy.

More Than Just the MusicMore Than Just the Music

While the von Trapp family While the von Trapp family is known for its singers, all is known for its singers, all of the children played of the children played musical instruments and musical instruments and they all had some other they all had some other form of art they worked form of art they worked with. It ranged from with. It ranged from sculpting, painting, weaving, sculpting, painting, weaving, illuminating manuscripts illuminating manuscripts and photography to a and photography to a sophisticated form of finger sophisticated form of finger painting.painting.

The von Trapp LodgeThe von Trapp LodgeThe von Trapp family The von Trapp family first opened its 27 room first opened its 27 room lodge in 1950. 33 years lodge in 1950. 33 years later, they reopened the later, they reopened the lodge with 96 rooms and lodge with 96 rooms and suites, 100 time shared suites, 100 time shared guest houses, and 14 guest houses, and 14 villas on 2700 acres with villas on 2700 acres with sweeping mountain sweeping mountain views. The lodge is open views. The lodge is open year round, with year round, with seasonal activities to seasonal activities to entertain guests.entertain guests.

The GardensThe GardensThe gardens at the lodge The gardens at the lodge are extensive, and are one are extensive, and are one of the greatest of the greatest attractions. The first attractions. The first garden was planted by garden was planted by Maria Kutschera von Maria Kutschera von Trapp to remind her of her Trapp to remind her of her home. Since then, four home. Since then, four more gardens have been more gardens have been added to her original Rock added to her original Rock Garden: the Lodge Garden: the Lodge Garden, the Family Garden, the Family Cemetery, the Croquet Cemetery, the Croquet Court, and the Cutting Court, and the Cutting Gardens.Gardens.

ImmortalizedImmortalizedThe Sound of Music The Sound of Music has forever has forever immortalized the von immortalized the von Trapp family singers Trapp family singers and their story. It is and their story. It is one of the most one of the most beloved movies and beloved movies and plays worldwide. plays worldwide. However, when asked However, when asked about it, Maria von about it, Maria von Trapp said “It was a Trapp said “It was a nice story, but it was nice story, but it was not not mymy story”. story”.

ResourcesResources

Websites that helped make this Websites that helped make this slideshow:slideshow:

http://www.trappfamily.comhttp://www.trappfamily.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_MusicThe_Sound_of_Music

Slideshow by: Slideshow by: AstridAstrid