How are you going to celebrate M 150?

[john haueisen]

In less than two months (July 7th), it will be the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Mahler.
Does anyone have an idea of something special they will be doing to celebrate this sesquicentennial?

[James Meckley]

I plan to have a few local Mahlerites over, serve apricot dumplings (with vanilla ice cream and Viennese coffee), and listen to the Eighth Symphony, his most joyous creation and the work which originally led me into the wonderful world of Mahler some 40 years ago.

James

[barry guerrero]

I work a closing shift, so I'll play either Mahler 2 or 8 that day. Then again, I often play a big Mahler symphony, so nobody will notice the difference; only those who are already clued in.

[john haueisen]

Good for you, James!
So delightful to hear of someone for whom Mahler plays such a significant role.
Are you going to use one of the apricot dumpling recipes from the fourth volume of La Grange?
In my first attempt, I miscalculated the conversion from the metric system, and my dough was too sticky to work with.
Follow up attempts had excellent results.  I even found I could freeze the Marillenknodel and thaw them in the microwave.
--John H

[James Meckley]

I've tried several recipes over the last year or so, and have settled on one that's a combination of a couple of others but remains reasonably authentic. I've "Americanized" the recipe in that I finish by coating the dumplings with cinnamon & sugar rather than the traditional cinnamon & breadcrumbs, which makes them seem more dessert-like. I don't care for the potato-dough versions, so I use the more conventional eggs & flour, which is indeed a bit sticky but workable with enough dry flour on the hands and pastry board (and patience, of course). When apricots are out of season, plums make a nice inexpensive alternative.

James

[mahler09]

Does anybody have the La Grange recipe?  I was hoping to make some for the 99th anniversary of his in ten days but have not read that volume yet. 
I'm not sure about his 150th, but I have the scores to symphonies 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and DLVE and plan to spend lots of time listening with them on the 18th. 

[James Meckley]

Does anybody have the La Grange recipe?  I was hoping to make some for the 99th anniversary of his in ten days but have not read that volume yet.

There are really four recipes in Appendix 31 of de La Grange's Volume 4—one basic recipe and three variants. He collected them from a woman in the Dolomites as being representative of the dumplings Mahler might have encountered during his lifetime. There are any number of other apricot dumpling recipes available on the Internet that would be equally valid representations. Watch for a private message through this board; I'll try to get you going in the right direction.

One hint: If you plan to make these to serve to friends, have a trial run or two prior to the big event—your first batch will almost surely miss the mark in some way.

James

[mahler09]

Thank you!  I'll let everyone know how it goes 

[mahler09]

They turned out well...I just can't figure out how to upload a picture here!

[Michael]

I don't think one can upload anything here...at least that is what it appears.

As for me...M5, M6, and M9 are definitely on the agenda!  I do not much care for Mahler's vocal stuff--not yet, anyway--it's just not my thing.

[mahler09]

For Mahler's 99th, I listened to symphonies 1, 4, 9, & DLVE.  I listened to 1 & 4 before Tuesday because of time constraints though (unfortunately there was not enough time to listen to any of Mahler's other works).   That's unfortunate about pictures though.  Although a warning to anybody making them: the dough is very, very sticky!
It's interesting that you bring up vocal music.  For me, I was never really into vocal works before Mahler but he was the composer who introduced me to and made me appreciate them (or at least his).

[Zoltan]

They turned out well...I just can't figure out how to upload a picture here!

You could upload to the many image hosters and link it from here (Flickr is a popular one). Then use the second icon from the left in the row of icons above the emoticon row. Or just type the link between [ img ] Link here [ /img ]

It would appear like this:

[john haueisen]

Thanks to Zoltan for explaining how to insert pictures.
I'll give it a try.  Here's my attempt at Marillenknoedel.  The sugar-centered apricots are inside.  The coating is dough covered with buttery cinnamon sugar.  --John Haueisen

   <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50378522@N05/4627377570/" title="Marillen knoedel by john haueisen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4627377570_3690c2e2e7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="Marillen knoedel" /></a>

[john haueisen]

Wish you could taste them.  Mahler had good taste in desserts.

[singingfriar]

A listening party sounds like a wonderful idea!  I think my wife and I will be doing our celebrating a few weeks early though since we will be in the Czech Republic and visiting Kaliste and Jihlava in late June.