A powerful and uplifting piece of music

Dear Choir:

Another week of not getting together, and I'm finding that having Wednesday evenings off is not all that great.  I could use some communal singing and working together right now.  Perhaps you're finding good music to hear on the computer or in your CD collection; last weekend I listened to Bach's St. Matthew Passion  --  three CDs long, but worth the time and attention to set the stage for Easter morning!

Gustav Mahler's 2^nd Symphony, nicknamed the "Resurrection" Symphony, is surely one of the most powerful, moving, and uplifting works of music.  Having sung it several times, and listened to it additionally, I can scarcely hear it without its bringing tears to my eyes.  Recently, members of the Minnesota Orchestra were asked to hold up a sign responding to the question "What Keeps You Hopeful?", to be streamed on the Orchestra's website as the Orchestra's own recording of the final several minutes of the "Resurrection" Symphony played in the background.  The signs ranged from the humorous to the serious, including a french horn player's answer to what keeps him hopeful --  "The Empty Tomb."  With a little patience and searching, you can bring up this video on the Orchestra's website.  It's worth watching and listening to – turn the volume control up a bit higher than usual for the best effect!

I've attached a translation of the text; it may seem a little clunky, but it's more-or-less word-for-word (also, keep in mind that this is just the last several minutes of the final movement of this much-longer work).  My suggestion would be to print out the text, then play the video so you can possibly follow along with the music. [And I'll send along the link to the video in a separate email so as not to overburden this one.]

"O Death, you conqueror of all things,
Now, are you conquered." -- Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 2

Please stay well, and take care of yourselves.

      Allan