Saturday 9 -- Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (1968)

Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (1968)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it HERE.

1) Mahler's No. 8 is sometimes referred to as "Symphony of a Thousand" because it was scored for a large orchestra and choral force. Do you often listen to classical music?  I mostly listen to classical music.  I love most musical genres but Classical is my favorite just ahead of Folk ballad style, Western Ballad, and Rock and Roll.  I sing along with it all. 

2) This piece has solos for each of the main vocal ranges: soprano, alto, tenor, bass. Do you know which range your voice is in?  Not anymore.  I used to be a Coloratora Suprano, but now I'm probably a Metzo. I hardly sing anymore when there's anyone around; yes, it's now that bad.  Pneumonia does some damage to your breath control, and age will change your vocal strength, and control.  I do whistle a lot.  Does that count? 

This lil gal is from HERE

3) Historians tell us Mahler kept fit by swimming and riding his bike along the Alpine trails. What's your favorite form of exercise?  Ocean swimming, boogie boarding, body surfing, and Cycling.  All, obviously in the past. 

4) Mahler could be difficult to work with because when it came to his music, he was a stickler over even the most minor details and wouldn't give an inch. Would you rather work as part of a team or on your own?  My paid jobs, my work, was mostly in schools, or retail sales, and I did enjoy working with people.  I also worked for 8 years as a carpenter, and it was fun partly because of the crew members/the people I worked with.  So, team I suppose ......

5) This week's featured artist, Leonard Bernstein, said his father didn't want him to pursue music. Instead the elder Bernstein wanted his son to either join the family business (a beauty supply company) or become a rabbi. Did your family try to influence your choice of career?  No. Not at all.  The Desert and the Mountains, and the rocks out there in that big world influenced me more than anything else.  I also was a very good artist, and thought it would be my career.  That changed when I realized I'd most likely have to teach it to make any money. 

6) Bernstein's best-known work is West Side Story. Without looking it up, can you name a song from this beloved Broadway classic?  "America"  I love it, love it!  I can still hear the group, girls led by Rita Moreno,  singing the version in the movie from way back.  This is not what I remember, but it'll do:

Fighting is alright in America! 

7) Born in Lawrence, MA, Bernstein "went home" when he performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. Tanglewood has played host to a variety of musical artists. In 2022, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor all performed there (with James Taylor scheduled to return this summer, as well). What's the first concert you ever attended?  My first concert was at UCSD and was Janis Joplin and her band.  

8) In 1968, when Bernstein released this album, a sitcom called Mayberry R.F.D. premiered. It was a spin off of the highly successful Andy Griffith Show, which ran from 1960 to 1968 and is still broadcast and streamed today. Were you an Andy Griffith Show fan?  I've always loved Andy Griffith but didn't watch his shows.  I'm glad to hear that someone has thought to put his shows up somewhere.  I'll watch anything if it is NOT on commercial TV, because I cannot stand commercial TV. 

9) Random question: When people ask for your advice, what do they usually ask you about?  Usually it is how to do something in Cooking, Quilting or Knitting or Ceramics, and this last was because I was one of the best decorator/painters in my Ceramic's club.  

Readers, here is the LINKIE to the Home Planet, so that you can see other Niner's posts, and say HI to Sam, our tireless, gracious hostess for Saturday Nine.