Saturday 9

Ludwig Von Beethoven: Complete Symphonies

Welcome to Saturday: 9. Hosted by Sam!

Complete Symphonies (2019)

This week we're classing up the joint with a well-received box-set by the Danish Chamber Orchestra. You can listen to the orchestra below.

1) Beethoven is one of classical music's best known composers. Do you often listen to classical music?I did much more when I was younger. I actually have a wonderful library of classical albums  which, alas, I never listen to anymore.. I do keep a classical  station of Pandora where I can call up  whatever I  want to listen to,  but  I  know I am forgetting many of my old favorites!

2) Though a musical genius, Beethoven never learned to multiply or divide. When faced with a simple arithmetic problem, do you do it in your head? Or do you rely on the calculator in your phone or on your computer? I generally do it in my head,, being a math teacher for 30 years I still have the  "simple mechanisms" in my head!

3) Beethoven bathed often, which was considered "quirky" for a man of his time. (Understandable, since you had the heat the water, haul it to the tub, and then empty the tub bucket by bucket when you were done.) Do you bathe in the morning or in the evening? I usually bathe mid day now that Im retired.

4) Adam Fischer conducts the Danish Chamber Orchestra for this 5-disc set. He began his musical career young, when he sang in the children's choir of Budapest's National Opera House. Have you ever sung in a choir or chorus?  I sang in a choir in college,  and  several church choirs over my life!

5) Mr. Fischer was awarded the Gold Medal of Arts from the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Tell us about a prize or award you have received. (Yes, that ribbon you earned for penmanship in second grade counts.) I won awards in school   usually  for good behavior.  I really don't remember much else!

6) The Danish Chamber Orchestra is beloved in Demark. When, in 2014, the Danish Broadcasting Company announced it would no longer fund the Orchestra, citizens began a crowdfunding campaign and raised more than $1,000,000 to keep the music playing. Have you ever contributed to a crowdfunding platform, like GoFundMe, Kickstarter or FundRazr? No.

7) The Orchestra's "home" is the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen. Where were you when you last heard music played live?  Other than church and restaurants, I would say it ws our local symphony.  We used to be  yearly subscribers.


8) In 2019, when this boxed set was released, China became the first nation to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon. Are you fascinated by stories about space? More so back in the 60's with our  space program.

9) Random question: Tell us about your week. These are extraordinary times, and it might feel good to share.  I left the house for the last time on Wednesday,, both for medical reasons.  Hubs  has a hard time staying in...  He  finds some small reason to leave the house every day.

  Daughter has finally convinced him we must really stock up for a long haul because she believes we will be in lockdown and will not be able to get out..so I am making a list.  My 86 year old uncle had a bad episode at home Thursday and spent the night in the hospital.  They  first thought this was it!   He had  so many  serious  concerns.  But after  the antibiotics and meds they gave him he rallied quite a bit so they are sending him home  because with the covid 19's coming in now to the hospital he'd be safer at home. Of course, I am not discounting the many prayers that have been prayed over him, as well.