Greetings Music Lovers

[brpaulandrew]

After reading the Forum for a few weeks, I guess it's time to take the plunge
and join in the fray with an introduction.

I'm Br. Paul Andrew, a Cistercian (Trappist) Monk living with 35 Brothers outside Dubuque, IA
in a large monastery surrounded by our organic farm and woodlands. With rising at 3:00 AM
for Vigils and going to bed at 8:00 PM after Compline, I am involved with plain chant, psalms
and hymns all day long. I sing in the Scola and am second organist.

My degree is in music education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale but I have never taught.
I worked in phone order sales in St. Louis, MO until entering here 9 years ago. While in St. Louis,
I would buy subscriptions to the St. Louis Symphony and attend operas and musicals.

As far as my musical tastes go, I guess I'll look at my CD's and mention multiple (3 or more) copies
of some works:

Mozart: Magic Flute, Marriage of Figaro, Late String Quartets
Schubert: Late String Quartets
Brahms: The Symphonies, Piano Concertos 1 and 2
Mahler: Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 and Das Lied von der Erde (10 performances)
Verdi: Othelo, Traviata
Puccini: Tosca, Butterfly, Boheme, Turandot
Richard Strauss: Rosenkavalier, Also Sprach Zarathustra, Don Quixote,
       Four Last Songs (8 performances)
Wagner: Die Walkure, Parsifal, Tristan
Shostakovich: Quartets, Symphonies 5, 10, 14
Britten: War Requiem, Peter Grimes   

[Harry]

You are very welcome my friend. Anyone who has turned his life to God, is a brother of mine. I am like Florestan Orthodox, only Russian in this case.
Your musical choices are not mine, but I am sure I will enjoy your contributions.

[david johnson]

hi, new brother. 

dj

[uffeviking]

Great having you join us and of course a new member with such an outstanding collection of classical music. Ten performances of Das Lied von der Erde! I only have seven! Care to tell me which is your favourite? I love them all, but the one conducted by Kubelik and sung by Kmentt and Baker is the one I listen to more often than any of the others.

[Hollywood]

Greetings from Mozart's Vienna, Br. Paul Andrew. Welcome to the forum. 

[Florestan]

A warm welcome from a Romanian Orthodox Christian! Most of your favourites are also mine so I'm looking forward to your postings here! May God bless us all!

[bhodges]

Welcome, Br. Paul Andrew, and what an interesting background!  And a nicely mix of recordings, too.  (Multiple recordings of R. Strauss's Four Last Songs noted!  )

--Bruce

[karlhenning]

Sacrée vache, Br. Paul, my wife's cousin went to Carbondale!  Welcome to the forum!

[BachQ]

Welcome! 

Brahms: The Symphonies, Piano Concertos 1 and 2

0:)

Mahler: Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 and Das Lied von der Erde (10 performances)

3 and 6 are among my faves .........

[Renfield]

Welcome indeed, Br. Paul!

[Keemun]

Mahler: Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 and Das Lied von der Erde (10 performances)

Welcome, Br. Paul.  My favorite Mahler symphonies are 2 and 9.  Have you listened to much Bruckner?  After some effort, I have come to really like his symphonies.  Different from Mahler, but also a great symphonist. 

[knight66]

I suspect we have quite a few of the same recordings, for sure my multiples are of the same works that dominate your collection.

Welcome, I look forward to your posts.

Mike

[DavidW]

Pleasure to meet you Brother Paul, and it looks like we have similar taste in music.  I just like Beethoven a bit more.

[Gabriel]

A warm welcome, Brother Paul Andrew, from a Roman Catholic! Even if I don't see Cherubini or Rejcha on the list, I'm sure there will be great musical conversations!