Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in D Major
26 November 2002, 10:44 AM

Last night Jeff and I had dinner and then went to listen to the University's Southwest Symphony Orchestra play Symphony No. 1, in D Major by Gustav Mahler. For $2.

That's what I love about working on a University campus and living so close by. I can easily go to classes and finish my Bachelor's degree even while working full-time. If I worked anywhere else I'd have to consider time to get into my car and drive to campus and back and make up *all* that time at work. But right now it's much easier. When we wrap up a department meeting at 1:55pm I can walk leisurely to the next building and be in my 2:00pm class on time. And there's always something nifty on campus to go and see or do, like this symphony. I can leave work and be home in five minutes, have time for dinner and time to pack (I'm going to Houston for Thanksgiving) and still make it back to campus in plenty of time to park and get a good seat to listen to the symphony.

As for the piece itself? Mahler's not really one of my favorites by any stretch, but it was kinda nifty to pick out bits and pieces that I suspect influenced some modern day composers like Jerry Goldsmith, Joseph Stein and John Williams. At least, *my* ear heard a lot of familiar styles and sounds, and since there was a re-discovery of Mahler in the 1960's I'd be surprised if there wasn't some homage paid to him by these composers.

Here's some good related links: