Wow!

[12tone.]

Did anyone else watch Rattle's performance of Mahler's 9th on Great Performances on tv yesterday?  It was on pretty late (finishing up at 10:30) but it was really good.  One of the best performances I've heard.  And that from Rattle!

I had bought Rattle's Beethoven symphony cycle and really disliked it -- didn't think anything he did was all that great -- so since then I've been a little hesitant on anything he conducts.  But that performance of Mahler's 9th was great. 

The only thing I didn't like was his...ohhhhhhhh...his indulgences?  It was a great performance, but probably one of the most indulgent ones I've heard.  A little too over-the-top and emotionally stressed-out.

Some questions I hope you guys can help me with (for those that saw it, or have an idea):

- A certain percussion instrument comes into play I saw which consists of metal sheets being tapped with a mallet.  Not gongs, but actual metal squares.  What is this instrument?  It's not used much is it?  Pretty cool "harbor" sound, like something in a ship yard (a buoy perhaps?).

- An instrument modification comes into play with the trombones it looked like: big, huge cork things were stuffed inside.  One of them was huge and looked like it had a small metal handle at the end.  I know brass uses these cork things but not like those!  What were those?

[PerfectWagnerite]

- An instrument modification comes into play with the trombones it looked like: big, huge cork things were stuffed inside.  One of them was huge and looked like it had a small metal handle at the end.  I know brass uses these cork things but not like those!  What were those?

Uhhh, could it be a mute? But with handles