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So, I've been writing essays on r/lingling40hrs about some composers in order to introduce their works to new listeners, so far including Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, and Mahler. The series has been going great and has been receiving some positive feedback, but ever since I wrote the Mahler essay, I couldn't stop thinking about Alma and how she should be represented in history.
If you don't know who Alma was, Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel (1879-1964) was a composer, pianist, socialite, and wife to Gustav Mahler from 1902 to Gustav's death in 1911. However, she is most known for the multiple affairs with famous intellectuals and artists that she carried on throughout her life. A few notable lovers include architect Walter Gropius, who she began an affair with while married to Mahler, and would marry later on after having many other sexual relationships with other men, including painter Oskar Kokoschka. And while married to to Gropius, Alma began a relationship with writer Franz Werfel. She was so infamous for her whirlwind romances, Tom Lehrer, one of my favourite comedian-songwriters, even wrote a song about them in 1965 after reading her shockingly racy obituary in the New York Times, which detailed all three of her romances.
However, when we listen to Alma's work, it's abundantly clear that she was a very talented composer as well. She composed mainly before she was married to Mahler, who discouraged her from writing music. Mahler was a very demanding conductor who tried to micromanage everything that went on in the concert hall, and this trait extended into his personal life as well. He would write long letters to his friends and siblings about how he expected them to behave according to his high standards, and he treated Alma no differently. Believing there could only be one composer in the family, Mahler would not allow Alma to write music. However, he had a change of heart in 1910, when he found out about Alma's affair with Gropius. Realizing he needed to be a better husband, Mahler allowed for five of Alma's songs to be published and made sure they were performed exactly the way Alma intended them to be. However, at this point, the damage had been done, and Alma had given up composing for good.
This is an anecdote that makes me- as well as many other music lovers- pity Alma. As a female musician and a creative person as well, I couldn't imagine what would ha
... keep reading on reddit β‘
Image: [Ach, Klimt! Warum haben Sie nicht ihr PortrΓ€t malen?]
http://thisnortheasternlife.blogspot.com/2016/04/quote-of-day-for-2016-04-10.html
Alabama - Ludwig van Beethoven. Out of the top-3 winningest CFP teams in the modern era (the others are Notre Dame and Oklahoma), Alabama has had the most recent success, just as Beethoven was the youngest of the "Big Three" composers.
Notre Dame - J.S. Bach. Notre Dame had the earliest success of the top 3, claiming several championships in the 1920s and 1930s. Bach lived the earliest of the "Big Three" and was also very religious.
Oklahoma - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The remaining member of the "Big Three".
Oklahoma State - Antonio Salieri. In popular culture, Salieri is often though of as a rival of Mozart, but this is a myth; the two were actually good friends. Similarly, Oklahoma State is often though of as a rival of Oklahoma, but this is a myth, as OSU has 18 wins in 115 meetings.
Clemson - Johannes Brahms. Clemson has recently seen major success, but still does not have the same legacy as the most elite teams. Brahms is considered to follow Bach and Beethoven as one of the "Three B's," but as the most minor composer in the trio.
Arkansas - George Frideric Handel. Though of German origin, Handel relocated to Britain for most of his career, and wrote many pieces honoring British monarchs. Though Arkansas is of SWC origin, they have since moved to the SEC, and their fans show a lot of pride in their new conference, having originated the S-E-C chant.
Kent State - Franz Joseph Haydn. Haydn was a mentor to both Mozart and Beethoven. Kent State is the alma mater of Nick Saban, and Bob Stoops was an assistant coach there.
Chicago - Chicago was an elite team in the beginning of the 1900s but ended its football program in 1939. Rossini was an extremely prolific opera composer, but surprisingly retired at age 37, at the height of his career.
Nebraska - Franz Schubert. Schubert is considered one of the best composers of all time but he sadly died young at age 31. Nebraska was elite for much of their history, but their program died young in the 90s.
Texas A&M - Gustav Mahler. Mahler once said that "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."
Princeton - Hildegard of Bingen. A composer from the Medieval Era who was very influential at the time, but her music would be considered primitive compared to later composers'. Princeton (and later Yale) dominated the early days of college football, winning more titles than any other team in history, but for much of this period the sport was more similar to rugby a
... keep reading on reddit β‘I have to admit that all I want is your recommendations here :) Just want to dig deeper into this genre.
This thread doesn't need to be strictly about "song cycles", but any classical work written mostly for a SOLO SINGER, male or female, including cantatas, suites, arias from operas, or any other modern and contemporary structure.
Here are some of my own suggestions:
1 - My most favorite is Das Lied Von Der Erde, by Gustav Mahler, and all of his song cycles are beautiful. Btw, his wife Alma Mahler also wrote some good ones.
2 - Let Me Tell You, by Abrahamsen, is incredible
3 - Schumann's Ditchterliebe is probably my favorite from the romantic era
4 - Luciano Berio has an awesome set of Folk Songs adapted for a small orchestra
5 - Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire is obviously super cool
What else????
Wagner- Brutal RACIST and NAZI SYMPATHIZER (I MEAN HITLER LOVED HIM SO..)
Debussy- WIFE ABANDONER and PEEVISH IDIOT
Bach- SEVERELY ABUSED his STUDENTS and MUSICIANS
R. Strauss- WORKED WITH NAZIS and JUST WRITE A NORMAL OPERA FOR GODS SAKE
Mahler- WIFE-BEATER... ENOUGH SAID
Tchaikovsky- PEDOPHILE and ANTI-SEMITE (plus he wrote that CRINGE-ASS NUTCRACKER SHIT)
Beethoven- He was just so MEAN and GROUCHY and probably SEXIST
Mozart- He was ALCOHOLIC and SLEAZY Amadeus TOLD ME SO
Schoenberg- His MUSIC makes my TUMMY HURT
Schubert- CRAZY PEDO SEX ADDICT
Bartok- His MUISC makes my TUMMY HURT
Shostakovich- COMMIE DICTATOR EVIL SCARY MAN
Chopin- POLISH WHITE MALE
Liszt- Just POOR SHOW-OFF CRAP
Like comment and subscribe if you think we should protest the classical canon guys ππ€πππππ
The important thing is never to let oneself be guided by the opinion of one's contemporaries; to continue steadfastly on one's way without
letting oneself be either defeated by failure or diverted by applause.
The funeral director was asking us what we think Mum should wear in her casket.
Mum always loved to wear sarongs (fabric wraps that go around the torso and drape downward a bit like a long skirt would), so my uncle suggested that she wear a sarong in there.
The funeral director looked a bit confused, as did some of our family members, to which my uncle added:
"What's sarong with that?"
I started laughing like an idiot. He was proud of it too. The funeral director was rather shocked. We assured her, and our more proper relatives, that Mum would've absolutely loved the joke (which is very true).
His delivery was perfect. I'll never forget the risk he took. We sometimes recall the moment as a way help cushion the blows of the grieving process.
--Edit-- I appreciate the condolences. I'm doing well and the worst is behind me and my family. But thanks :)
--Edit-- Massive thanks for all the awards and kind words. And the puns! Love 'em.
I would have a daughter
But Bill kept the Windows
True story; it even happened last night. My 5-year-old son walks up behind me and out of the blue says, "hey."
I turn to him and say, "yeah, kiddo? What's up?"
He responds, "it's dead grass."
I'm really confused and trying to figure out what's wrong and what he wants from me. "What? There's dead grass? What's wrong with that?"
.
.
.
He says, totally straight-faced, "hay is dead grass," and runs off.
You officially hit rock bottom
No it doesn't.
And then you will all be sorry.
Now itβs syncing.
