Mahler 7 and Castrol GTX

[mathias broucek]

Members over 35 will perhaps remember the iconic add involving the 1st Nachtmusik and some oil.

Having heard it so many times (you couldn't fastforward through the adds then) my - no doubt imperfect - memory of it has inevitably become the "filter" through which I hear any new performance!

Does anyone know which recording it was from (I guess there weren't many options at the time)?

[Petrushka]

This advert was my first encounter with Mahler 7 and, infuriatingly, I still think of Castrol GTX whenever I hear the opening of Nachtmusik 1.

As for which recording was used, my best guess would be Chicago SO/Solti.

[Roehre]

My first encounter with Nachtmusik 1 specifically was through an LP released by DGG with music from Kubelik's cycle to coinciding from the release of Visconti's film Death in Venice. Shortly afterwards I got Mahler 7 as part of that Kubelik cycle (with Haitink's CGO now nearly 40 years onwards still my preferred ones) and consequently never connected the music with some make of oil (thank goodness).

[MickyD]

Bach's cantata no.147 has forever been besmirched for me since Lloyds Bank used it endlessly with that wretched black horse running through the fields. I'm sure there are many other examples.

[mercia]

don't blow a gasket

[Karafan]

I have several infuriating associations, which try as I might I cannot rid myself of among which are:-

Tchaikovsky Sym 6 - slow melody used in a song called "This is the story of a fine romance"
Schumann piano quintet 1st movement - "Who wants to be a millionaire?" (they must have virtually nicked it!)

Thankfully, I have no images of loaf-laden delivery boys struggling up precipitous inclines when I hear the 'New World' and am grateful for small mercies!

Karafan

[3rd Viennese School]

Ah yes, that Hovis advert with the Yorkshire boy walking up t'hill..

in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

[BetweenTheStaves]

This advert was my first encounter with Mahler 7 and, infuriatingly, I still think of Castrol GTX whenever I hear the opening of Nachtmusik 1.

As for which recording was used, my best guess would be Chicago SO/Solti.

Anyone care to have a go ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=384Cs...eature=related

[Serial_Apologist]

My late father frequently complained that he could never rid his mind of the Babycham-like bambis from Disney's "Fantasia" when listening to Beethoven 6, and that that film had permanently ruined his appreciation of the Pastoral.

[3rd Viennese School]

I used to hate the Castrol GTX advert when it was on in the olden days.

Then, years later in 1995 I explored Mahler 2 and 6- really changed my musical world. “I wonder what no.7 goes like?! I wondered.

Then I heard it. Mvt 1 sounded like such an odd, modern sound world compared to 2 and 6. Then mvt 2 started. It was the Castrol GTX advert! I thought that was so ironic.

P.S. Younger readers may know the variation on this- the Red Dwarf Intro music.

3VS

[tsuji-giri]

Mars confectionery used the finale of Beethoven's Pastoral symphony in advertisements for 'Galaxy' (very) milk chocolate. It aroused quite a lot of interest from those unfamiliar with serious music.
One man rang us and we told him that it was Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. An hour later he rang again 'I've just been down the record shop and the man says there's no such think as Beethoven's Castrol symphony'!