Gustav Mahler meets the New World Celts

Gustav Mahler meets the New World Celts

The third movement, a scherzo, with alternating sections in 2/4 and 6/8 metre, quotes extensively from Mahler's early song "Ablösung im Sommer" (Relief in Summer). In the trio section, a complete mood changes from playful to contemplative occurs with an off-stage post horn (or flugelhorn) solo. The reprise of the scherzo music is unusual, as it is interrupted several times by the post-horn melody.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._3_%28Mahler%29

The house lights dim and the crowd settles down and finds their seats. The stage is set, the musicians - orchestra and singers, are in their places. It was the opening night for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The conductor and music director had chosen an epic work to kick off their 20^th year. 

Epic indeed, the selection for this performance was Gustav Mahler’s Symphony #3. The piece calls for an expanded orchestra – larger string section, brass section with no less than 9 – count ‘em, 9 French horns, and 2 choirs (one lady’s and one children’s choir).   

To top that off, this piece has the distinction of being the longest in musical history weighing in at … wait for it … 110 minutes - with no breaks. 

At this point you might be thinking that this writer might be having second thoughts and … you’d be right. But I’m on a date night with my wife, we are with some of our closest and dearest “music” friends, and we know some of the performers on stage. Some from other groups like the Bach Festival Orchestra (which we sang with for many years) and one of our friends and fellow members of the Orlando Chapter New World Celts. 

So I settle in for a night of great music and just hope that the drink I had won’t come back to haunt me for the next hour or so. 

As the maestro talks about the performance we are about to hear, he speaks of the influences that inspired Mahler to pen these melodies. He mentions Gustav as a younger man staring out at the beautiful mountains and forests and fields of his homeland and the brisk air on his face and on and on.

My mind begins to wander as it is want to do in similar situations. It occurs to me that the composer was born in Bohemia Austria http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Mahler-Gustav.htm .

Did you know that Bohemia gets it’s name from the Latin translation of the name Boii - the great Celtic tribe  that settled in that area about 500B.C. ?  http://www.prague.net/celtic-walk

Gustav Mahler was probably descended from that great people and how ironic that here we, a couple of New World Celts, are sitting in an audience watching a fellow New World Celt on stage perform a symphony written by an old world Celt. 

I chuckle to myself at the realization and a few around me look at me like I shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine. O.K., well, maybe so, but I was all the more encouraged that this was going to be a great experience. 

During the second movement a fellow from the percussion section discretely makes his way off stage. That was a little odd but I figure there must be a really good reason he would do that in the middle of a concert. Who knows, maybe he shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine.

A few moments later, during a soft passage, we hear a snare drum from off stage right. Oh, then it makes sense and what a cool effect!

In the third movement, our friend, trumpet section 'first chair' and New World Celt member, Lyman Brody, discretely makes his way off stage.

Several minutes into the movement the music slows and gets softer.  A trio of horns and woodwinds leads on but then stops.   

Suddenly, a lone horn answers - not from off stage right - but from behind us in the cheap seats in the balcony! 

From the back of the balcony Lyman’s solo horn continues a back and forth “conversation” with the orchestra on stage till the movement ends on his final note. 

Margaret Patton beside me (the director of the Maitland Orchestra) turns to me and says, “That was beautiful!”.  It was beautiful and nearly breath-taking as our friend played his part flawlessly. 

A few minutes later our fellow Celt discreetly makes his way back to his seat and the concert continues and it was a very impressive performance indeed. All thanks to one of the greatest composers of his era and the talented musicians on stage that night, players and singers alike … and a very talented member of the New World Celts that I am even more proud to call my friend than I was before.

Now, where are the bathrooms, again?

By David Green,

Member and past Sgt. at Arms, 

Orlando Chapter New World Celts