Composition Practice! We tried to be Mahler and compose today. Some great compositions (and not so great --mine) were made! We'll continue working on it next time. I'd also like to share a really cute jazzified Mahler I stumbled across: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puOTYGHVHrQ . I'm in LOVE with the introduction
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MAHLER VALENTINES Happy (late) Valentines day! My orchestra teacher put up a Mahler related pick-up line, which I thought I'd share: No meeting on the 15th since it's break, I hope you all have a great Valentines and Valentines Eve :) P.S. I have some plans to be making a "Which Mahler Symphony Are You" Quiz next week!!! :)
Bruckner Listening - Symphony 3 Today we listened through Bruckner's Symphony Three. Although it did have a terrible premiere, Mahler heavily praised him! We also figured out the t-shirt ordeal, please place your interest in this form so I'll know where to ship it. If you'd like more than one, please put your address twice: https://forms.gle/giVSyT74w7UWFYyA7 . See you next week!
T-Shirt Update Hi everyone! We've decided to make this T-Shirt below (particularly because a lot of the little aspects of the picture represented many of us) using a drawing by Theo Zasche, one of his critics. We've kept it kind of simple for costs-sake AND the fact it is a masterpiece of itself. Haters keep hating, even on Mahler smh Anyways, if you're interested, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/giVSyT74w7UWFYyA7 . If you have any more suggestions, please let me know next meeting so we can discuss them! :
Watching the "Unanswered Question" - Lecture 3 Bernstein talks on meaning in this lecture, on how just like in language-where we use semantics-music uses something just as similar. He consistently connects this to language, where metaphors are able to connect two unrelated ideas in both language and music (where we change a melody to give it meaning). Music isn't just something that can be used for metaphor for ideas like nature or death, but as something that creates metaphors from other music. We can't always find ALL of these metaphors, but its what being human helps us find at least some.
Hans Rott: Symphony 1 Analysis Slight pause from the Bernstein lectures to go over Hans Rott, a short-lived composer who was incredibly influential on Mahler's pieces and Bruckner's 7th. I don't even need to explain how similar he sounds to Mahler, just hear it! We'll be continuing with Bernstein next week! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTwYSQOhsKc&ab_channel=ImWalde
Watching the "Unanswered Question" - Lecture 2 Bernstein talks on connecting syntax to Chomsky's universal grammar, showing how language become structures. He brings this to transpositions, augmentation, and deletion in music, while continuing to bring back the comparison of music to language. Bernstein clearly highlights many of these connections in music and language, many of which aren't much touched on. Like language, music can be transformed and basic structure is the building blocks of each. Next lecture is on musical semantics, something we covered a lot in Mahler's works. See you then!
Watching the "Unanswered Question" - Lecture 1 Bernstein talks about phonology and its application to music, where pitches are universal, and the balance between diatonicism and chromaticism. Mahler's Kindertotenlieder uses these kinds of pitches, where he was able to construct music that sounded more "Chinese" based on the Chinese songs he based his lieders on. Continuing next week!
Watching Gustav Mahler: Autopsy of a Genius Day 2 We have finished Gustav Mahler: Autopsy of a Genius, starring the Leonard Bernstein. It was a really good documentary that starred with Leonard Bernstein-so many powerful lines from the maestro. Matthew also recommended to begin watching Leonard Bernstein's Harvard Lectures, many of which he talks about music in the present social scene, and it's where the famous string analysis came from!