Monday, July 7, 2008

A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.

Including chimps, apparently. Je vous remercie, cruel internets denizens, for reminding us that The Worst President Ever® was hatched by the vile Babs on yesterday's date hundreds of years ago. Hey, you explain his long-discredited medieval worldview. Anyway, today let us celebrate a birthday worthy of such partying down excellence.



No, that's not Charles Xavier, but Christoph Eschenbach leading the Orchestre de Paris in the first movement of Gustav Mahler's first symphony in D major.



Since Mahler wrote beautifully Cyclopean pieces anywhere from four to eighteen movements totaling seventy-two hours each -- I exaggerate -- slightly -- here's the second part of that movement.

Yes, since it's his birthday, go buy some stuff.

You'll get your money's worth, believe me.

Plus you'll be stimulating the economy, or something.

20 comments:

Christopher said...

What a disgusting visage of Poppy and Cackling Granny Babs doing the nasty 62 years ago and they created the Mofo from Midland.

Of course, another scenario has Cackling Granny Babs laying eggs like the Alien Queen in the movie Alien. The little spawns are hatched by attaching themselves to the face of their host.

Either way, I hope George Bush received lots and lots of bags of dry pretzels for him to gobble down in the days and weeks ahead.

Anonymous said...

Mahler? Too heavy.

DivaJood said...

Mahler and Ringo Starr. Now THERE is some serendipity for ya.

XXOO,
The Cruel Diva

Anonymous said...

Well, since I was planning on shopping today and doing my part in stimulating the economy (something I plan on doing a lot while my husband is in Japan on business...heh heh), I might as well get something for Mahler's birthday. Do you think he would like a new pair of strappy red sandals...size 6?

Anonymous said...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IF WOULD TAKE THE TIME AND EDUCATE YOURSELVES IN THE NUANCES OF GUSTAV MAHLER< YOU WOULD FIND GREAT WONDERS AND INSIGHT.
MAHLER IS THE GREATEST COMPOSER WHO GRACED THIS PLANET, AS WELL AS THE GREATEST ORCHESTRATOR.
SEEK THE HIGH GROUND AND GET OUT OF THE MUD!

Mary Ellen said...

Who is that shouting on the blog? Mahler calling out from his grave?

DivaJood said...

Recently, a music scholar came upon Gustav Mahler's grave. It was open, and the scholar saw Mahler furiously erasing scores of music.

The scholar shouted in horror, "Gustav, what are you doing?"

Mahler replied, "Decomposing."

okjimm said...

I dunno about this classical music stuff.... D major, C sharp minor....... All I want to do is play with Lucinda's G string.

Anonymous said...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
GUSTAV MAHLER ONCE SAID; MY TIME WILL COME".
WELL FOLKS, HIS TIME IS THE LAST HALF CENTURY. ASK THE WORLD'S GREAT CONDUCTORS AND ORCHESTRAS HOW OFTEN THEY PERFORM MAHLER'S MUSIC, AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THERE IS A WONDERFUL STORY (TRUE) ABOUT A 6 YEAR OLD GIRL ENCOUNTERING MAHLER'S MUSIC (SIXTH SYMPHONY) DURING A SUMMER VACATION. A MEMBER OF THE STRING SECTION OF A MAJOR ORCHESTRA WAS LEARNING THE WORK BY LISTENING TO A RECORDING ON THE BEACH. THE YOUNG CHILD STARTED LISTENING AND ASKING QUESTIONS, SENSED A DEEPER MEANING TO THE MUSIC. THE YOUNG GIRL WOULD LISTEN EVERY DAY, AND SHE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE MEANING OF THAT MUSIC, AND TO LOVE IT. SHE DID ATTEND THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE, AND LOVED IT.
SO, MY FRIENDS, I SAY TO ALL:
KEEP AN OPEN MIND. THE WORLD WILL NEVER SEE THE LIKES AND TALENT OF GUSTAV MAHLER. LISTEN, BUT START AT THE BEGINNING WITH HIS FIRST SYMPHONT. THE MUSIC BELONGS TO US, TO GLEEN THE WONDERS, AND SADNESS, OF LIFE.

pissed off patricia said...

Just to clear up the rumor that is going around, I did not bake a birthday cake for george bush.

Okay, now I feel better.

Life As I Know It Now said...

That was funny DivaJood :~)

Dean Wormer said...

How do you know it's not Charles Xavier?

Maybe his mutant powers are super-conducting.

Think about that mr. smart guy.

Stella by Starlight said...

Well, I visited to say Happy Birthday, Randal. I didn't expect to get yelled at by Mahler's ghost. Interesting events occur on your blog.

As far as Bush goes, I'd say I hope he got a bags of coal, but he'll probably use them to further destroy the environment.

(~shudder~) Rotten creature.

Utah Savage said...

What Diva said. You're a very funny broad, Diva. I see you doing stand-up in the Catskills.

Sorry, Randal, some of us show up to talk amongst ourselves. You're a lovely host.

susan said...

'Decomposing Composers' - a great song by the Python's way back in prehistory and a great riff by Divajood. I'm not sure I'm ready for Mahler's ghost but if you see Mozart hanging around on his birthday I'll be right there in the front row.

As for the spawn of Babs - well, I'm sure we can all come up with well-deserved gift ideas.

Tom Harper said...

I'm gonna celebrate Dumbya's birthday (or hatch day) by going to Wal-Mart and buying a shitload of American flags and yellow ribbons.

Randal Graves said...

christopher, you shouldn't hold stuff in so much. It's okay to tell us how you feel about Chimpy and the rotten cocoon he was hatched from.

dcup, bah! No such thing as too heavy! C'mon everyone, mosh pit!

diva, emphasis on the cruel. I'm having second thoughts about being your campaign manager.

ME, I don't know, wouldn't the straps break his toes off? No more tendons and ligaments to hold those suckers in place anymore.

anon, sometimes it's fun to play in the mud!

ME, oooooooooh I am the ghost of composers past!

Anyone want to do some chain rattling?

diva, HA! Now that's fucking hilarious!

okjimm, prefer hers to Bach's air on a G string, huh?

POP, I'm disappointed. I would've expected a cake filled with rat poison.

liberality, as long as she doesn't start with the "I just flew in and boy are my arms tired" shtick. ;-)

dean, yeah, but where was the wheelchair? I suppose Jean Grey was getting her psychic floating on?

stella, this is a certainly a weird place. Excellent point about the coal. Let's everyone wish that bastard something extra green for Xmas.

utah, believe me, that's perfectly fine. Think of these as open threads with pictures and music.

susan, we won't have to wear powdered wigs, will we?

I know I have a few in mind for that wonderful, wonderful man.

tom, don't forget some lead-laced toys for the neighborhood tots!

Dr. Zaius said...

Well! You have more culture than a petri dish, I must say!

Randal Graves said...

It's all those hot dogs I eat!

Anonymous said...

I'm still waiting for a face melting guitar solo....