Sigma Alpha Iota

P A N P I P E S Winter 2021 21 21 A World of Music the Horácké eater. Although some specifics about his early musical endeavors are unknown, apparently he did get instruction from musicians in the local band — probably customers at his father's pub. However, Gustav was particularly grateful to his music teacher, his neighbor Heinrich Fischer (1827-1917) who organized the musical life in town and served as the choirmaster of both St. Jacob Church and the Male Choral Society. Gustav wrote to him frequently in later years. Gustav's father was a successful businessman and able to finance the musical studies of his son when he went to the Vienna Conservatory of Music while simultaneously attending the local German gymnasium (or high school) as an external, private student. For whatever reason, Gustav was a poor student in some subjects and received marks of "4" with "5" being the lowest grade. On September 12, 1876, before completing graduation requirements, he gave a benefit concert for the school at the former Czap Hotel (now the Dělnický Dům). is performance probably included the first movement of his Piano Quartet in A minor, for which he had won first prize in a musical composition competition at the Vienna Conservatory. Exactly a year later, despite Mahler's failing grades, the examination committee showed compassion and gave him marks of "satisfactory" or "sufficient" so that he passed the graduation requirements. In his symphonies musicologists find connections to his youth: melodies by Czech strolling musicians and blaring horns and beating drums by soldiers at the garrison. I wish I'd had more time to enjoy hearing Mahler recordings in the attractive listening station area equipped with iPads. In the same room I especially liked and twice watched "e gied boy's horn" — a film that cleverly addresses Mahler's different roles (boy, conductor, composer, band leader, celebrity, husband, and father). It was fascinating to see the screen with photos on the treble clef staff (and occasionally on the bass clef staff ) spin and pop off to become enlarged and accompanied by explanatory narration. Next to this room is the small area devoted to Gustav and his wife, Alma. Both of Gustav's parents died separately in 1889. In the decade prior, Mahler regularly appeared in town as a musician or conductor. However, he never returned to Jihlava aer his family's estate was settled when he officially became the guardian for his two brothers and two sisters. Rainy weather hampered the pleasure of following all of the Mahler footsteps in Jihlava, although I did go to Mahler Park, which opened as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of his birth. ree meters high on a pedestal is an elongated bronze sculpture of the composer by Jan Koblasa (1932-2017) standing guard over the excavated foundations of the former local Jewish synagogue. Built in the Moorish style in 1860, it was burned down by the Nazis in 1939. Since I was there during cold weather, there was no water spouting from ten fountains—one for each of Mahler's symphonies—on the stone wall above the stone fish who "swim" in water during warmer weather. Aerwards in the local Jewish cemetery I found his parents' graves. I had hired a guide for the ninety-minute drive from Prague to Jihlava. On the way back, we stopped at Kaliště to see the composer's birthplace. Because of his wife's dowry, Gustav's father purchased this residence, which had a pub and store but no window glass. e house was rebuilt in 1937 aer a fire and only reconstructed about twenty years ago. e former Mahler dwelling is now called the Mahler Pension and Restaurant. It would be a comfortable place to stop overnight, and the delicious aroma from the kitchen made me sorry there was no time to stay for dinner. You can read more at its website: www.mahler-penzion.cz My winter visit was before the yearly seven-week Mahler celebration; nevertheless it coincided with a Mahler performance I attended in the capital. e Czech Philharmonic Orchestra played Das Lied von der Erde (e Song of the Earth). Aer my daytime Mahler pilgrimage, it was a special joy that evening to hear the composer's music in his native land. Jayne I. Hanlin is an initiate of Alpha Omicron and current member of the St. Louis Alumnae chapter. Mrs. Hanlin, the sister of famed pianist Malcolm Frager, is the co-author of Learning Latin Through Mythology (Cambridge University Press, 1991). On display are three groups of cutout life-size figures representing the On display are three groups of cutout life-size figures representing the city 's German, Jewish, and Czech populations that changed percentages city 's German, Jewish, and Czech populations that changed percentages through the centuries. There is also a short documentary with an through the centuries. There is also a short documentary with an overview about Mahler 's time in Jihlava. overview about Mahler 's time in Jihlava.

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