musings upon Gustav

So I've got a sweet tooth for Gustav Mahler. His music just seems like the greatest thing ever to my ears (except for Coldplay, how can anyone hate Coldplay...oh wait. They're Coldplay, thats why).

Beyond just Mahler's music, I've delved into the contemporary academic material the has been produced concerning Mahler, and I'm trying to work my way up to the La Grange volumes. One of the things I have had a bit of trouble has been wrapping my head around the traditional groupings of his works, and more specifically his symphonies. While to take only his symphonies and compare them is somewhat an injustice in leaving out the vocal works, I view it as serving a purpose of reaching a better understanding on how Mahler's musical ideas changed and evolved.

The traditional groupings of the major works as I understand are as follows

Songs of a Wayfarer

Symphony 1

Wunderhorn settings

Symphony 2

Symphony 3

Wunderhorn settings

Symphony 4

Symphony 5

Symphony 6

Symphony 7

Symphony 8

Das Lied von Erde

Symphony 9

Symphony 10

Of the later symphonies I have no qualms with the groupings. Its really the first two groupings that I take issue with. To lay out the traditional reasoning

Sympohny 1's original program was to be about a hero, or titan. Since Mahler ultimately rejects all the programs he wrote for this symphonies, there is no true story, but the first symphony none the less retained the nickname 'Titan'. Its assumed that the first symphony is the rise and fall of said hero. The second symphony, nicknamed 'Resurrection' is just that. The Resurrection of the hero from the first symphony.

At this point, the musicology lesson is going to end temporarily as I research and formulate a stronger argument that I would like to present.

[I'm rather embarrassed, General Solo, but it appears you are to be the main course at a banquet in my honor.]

the philosophical adventures of a human floor level

So,

I've been doing lots of thinking recently. And yes, real thinking and not what kind of latte I'm going to have. Lots of deep philosophical thinking (rare for a trombone player). While these are much more fun bouncing them off of a person and having an intellectual discussion over it, I've come to realize (or rediscover) some interesting points in life over the past week. Also, I completely get why these blogs exist now. It's so people can run their philosophical minds around in circles and feel self important and that they are the next Socrates. Well, this is another possibility of these blogs existence's. They're still

How do we define ourselves?

This is a fun little notion I stumbled upon the other day. We all view ourselves as being made up of different components, characteristics, facets, what ever word you want you use. We're made up of parts. But the parts are the labels that are not just unique to ourselves. So therefore we define ourselves with predetermined, defined labels to better associate ourselves with others. People that have brothers can share that experience. People who value white chocolate lattes can share that experience (sadly). Those who play music no matter the genre can share that bond. These defined labels define who we are. But at the same time, we're all individuals. The labels that everyone can relate to at the same time create a unique situation in every person. The question I pose is, do we define ourselves as several parts or do we define ourselves as individuals, a single unit, summed by our parts? Would I introduce myself as a neanderthal trombonist who secretly hides an intellect that values characteristics like honor and duty? Or do I just introduce myself as Christian?

The second thought is one I never really vocalize, but one that is always on my mind. People pay me to play a hunk of metal, and I'm seeking to make a living out of a hunk of metal. Irony is such a wonderful thing.

So that's what's been on the mind as of recent. Now to go shrink away for the next decade after all the mindful thinking this week.

[why you stuck up, half witted, scruffy looking nerf herder]