Saturday 9 — Beethoven’s edition

It’s time for Saturday 9

Ludwig Von Beethoven: Complete Symphonies

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!


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 here.

1) Beethoven is one of classical music's best known composers. Do you often listen to classical music? 

I like many musical genres.  I don’t know as much about classical music as I’d like, but I do listen occasionally.  My favorite composer is Tchaikovsky.

I really like Andre Rieu, his forte is Strauss waltzes.  But give today’s theme ...

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?

It depends.  I can do addition and subtraction in my head, but I’m lazy.

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 prefer to shower in the morning, but I get up so early on workdays that sometimes it’s just easier to shower at night.

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 with the chorus in elementary school and junior high.    My musical career ended in high school.

 
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.)

 My soon-to-be-former employer gave me an award in June in recognition of five years of service to the company.



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?

Yes.  Sad story.  A friend was working as an Uber driver.  He was killed in a carjacking.  He would gladly  have given them the car.  I donated to the GoFundMe for his widow.

7) The Orchestra's "home" is the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen. Where were you when you last heard music played live?

Can’t believe it’s been been so long ....

In December we saw The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.  The show includes singing, dancing, and music, including selections on the world famous organ.

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?

Yes, both science and science fiction.  Our visit to the Kennedy Space Center in 2016 was memorable.

9) Random question: Tell us about your week. These are extraordinary times, and it might feel good to share.

Trying to get used to the new normal has not been fun.  NYC is now the epicenter of the pandemic.  Those of us in the suburbs are feeling the pain too.

Standing on line to get into a supermarket, only to see bare shelves, reminds me of what we heard about the Soviet Union back in the 70’s.  

My daughter Becca is handling self quarantine but can’t wait to be released. My daughter Jen, a civilian employee of the police department, is working only a few days a week to cut down on office density.  Drew is a substitute teacher, so he’s not working at all.

My orthopedist canceled my upcoming appointments because of the virus, so I’ll be living with knee pain awhile longer.

Gas prices are so low now, but there’s nowhere to go.

Joke I heard from a friend who is also a Rabbi:  this year Passover might be canceled because of a plague.