Mahler by Bernstein

As some readers may have been following my comments on LinkedIn, I recently experienced an "Alzheimer's moment" with a very recognizable musical theme.  After searching online through several "Name That Tune" engines, even enlisting the aid of my uncle, a musician par excellence with whom I used to play name-that-tune games, I came up short.  Could not identify that tune.  I stayed awake at night playing and replaying it in my mind, searching the memory banks.  Nada.  Silence.  Not a clue.  I wrote of my frustrtions on LinkedIn, and a brave soul offered to let me sing it to him, and voilà! He identified it! It was the finale to Mahler' First Symphony, the Titan. 

I pulled up several recordings of the 4th movement of the Titan on YouTube, but the one of which I am writing now is the one conducted by Leonard Bernstein.  I'm so glad that man doesn't use hair spray! He is one of the most expressive conductors out there! The entire clip is as much about him as it is about Mahler! Every note seems etched on Bernstein's face, every anticpated switch in tempo, every climactic crescendo - it's a pleasure to watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3RevCdZNs&feature=related

That Darned Melody!

I had downloaded some music to CD's, and was playing one of them in the car.  Problem was, I failed to list the contents of the CD.  Soon, a wonderfully energizing piece of music was playing, rousing trumpets, trombones and cymbals.  I was in heaven!  Wow, no wonder I downloaded this - it's wonderful.  I was singing; my husband was humming; I was conducting madly, my hair flying à la Seiji Ozawa.  But what is that tune?  I know it.  I can sing it.  My husband knows it.  It's familiar ... on the tip of my tongue ... no.  Nothing.  Alzheimer's.

That was five days ago.  That melody has been rattling around in my brain ever since.  I even called my uncle, a venerated member of my family who knows everything about music.  We used to challenge each other with Name That Tune in classical music in times past.  Surely, he would know?  No.  Sadly, he said he had never even heard it.  Now that's impossible.  It's too popular a theme!

Despair, frustration, agitation, I finally resorted to downloading one of those apps from the internet, where you sing a few bars, and poof! out comes The Melody with Name and Social Security Number, all nicely wrapped with a ribbon.  I used four such gizmos.  Sang my throat out to each one.  Sang it again, more melodiously this time.  Nada.  They produced a few names, but nothing remotely in the ball park.  Oh, what shall I do?  This is not possible!

Finally, in desperation, I turned to the Classical Music Group on LinkedIn.  I poured my heart out for all to see.  I told my story, expressed my chagrin, and begged for relief.

Lo and behold, someone appeared from the ether, much more musically educated than I, and together we put a name to that forlorn melody. 

The finale to Mahler's First Symphony.  I can sleep now.