The Symphony No. 4 in G major by Gustav Mahler was composed from 1899 to 1900, incorporating a song that he wrote in 1892. That song, "Das himmlische Leben", presents a child's vision of heaven and is sung by a soprano in the symphony's fourth and final movement. The Fourth Symphony was both smaller in orchestration and shorter in length than Mahler's earlier symphonies. The premiere was performed in Munich on 25 November 1901 by the Kaim Orchestra conducted by the composer. It was met with negative audience and critical reception over the work's confusing intentions and perceived inferiority to the Second Symphony. The work received its American and British premieres in 1904 and 1905, respectively. After Mahler's death, the symphony continued to receive performances under conductors such as Willem Mengelberg and Bruno Walter. Its first recording was a 1930 Japanese rendition conducted by Hidemaro Konoye that was also the first electrical recording of any Mahler symphony.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._4_%28Mahler%29
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1792:
Thomas Hardy founded the London Corresponding Society to seek a "radical reform of parliament", later influencing the reform movements of early-19th-century England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Corresponding_Society
1917:
Serving as an armed merchant cruiser, HMS Laurentic (depicted in merchant service) was sunk by German mines off the northern coast of Ireland, resulting in 354 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Laurentic_%281908%29
1967:
South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyễn Cao Kỳ fired rival Nguyễn Hữu Có while the latter was overseas on a diplomatic visit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_H%E1%BB%AFu_C%C3%B3
1995:
A team of Norwegian and American scientists launched a Black Brant XII sounding rocket, which was mistaken for a Trident missile by Russian forces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_rocket_incident
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
Burns night: An event held on the evening of 25th January in celebration of the Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns (born on that day in 1759), usually involving Scottish foods and recitals of his poetry. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Burns_night
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Here on this ring of grass we have sat together, bound by the tremendous power of some inner compulsion. The trees wave, the clouds pass. The time approaches when these soliloquies shall be shared. We shall not always give out a sound like a beaten gong as one sensation strikes and then another. Children, our lives have been gongs striking; clamour and boasting; cries of despair; blows on the nape of the neck in gardens. --Virginia Woolf https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Virginia_Woolf