Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Subject: Obit: Centenary of the death of Gustav Mahler
From: autolycus
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:05 PM

Mahler died 18th May 1911.
A great composer.
Hope you all don't ming this minor classical intervention.
I commemorated the event playing his Resurrection Symphony [No,2], and the last ten minutes of his last, No.10.
For the works, mant many thanks.

Ivor

Subject: RE: Obit: Centenary of the death of Gustav Mahler
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 18 May 11 - 07:36 PM

A German composer named Mahler,
When asked to perform at a gala,
   Said "My 'Song of the Earth'
   Will quite dissipate mirth,
I had better do something banaler".

One of my most prized LPs, even after all these years, is his 1st symphony with the LSO & Solti.
2nd + LSO + Solti is another.

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 18 May 11 - 07:50 PM

The First with Solti was one of my desert-island albums when I was in college. Wore the grooves off it. Also Kindertotenlieder, which still sends chills down my spine. What a powerful composer he was. Thanks for starting this thread, Ivor - makes me re-live a lot of things that had slipped below memory.

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 11 - 07:51 PM

I saw Otto Klemperer conduct Mahler's Second at the Festival Hall back in the 60's and it was wonderful and so powerful. Sad the 10th didn't get finished as it is an awesome piece of music potentially.

Have to dig out my boxed set of all the symphonies and have a listen

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: IvanB
Date: 18 May 11 - 08:13 PM

I sang in the chorus for a Kalamazoo SO (Michigan, USA) production of the 2nd Symphony years ago. I count it as one of the great experiences of my life. I remember, in particular, the final movement where the tenor part soared to an impossibly high note at a triple pianissimo. Luckily, we started rehearsals way early, because it took me weeks to get my voice up to that range, and I was one of the higher pitched tenors to begin with.

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: mrdux
Date: 19 May 11 - 01:08 AM

just finished listening to "das Lied" -- the Bruno Walter/Kathleen Ferrier 1952 recording. still brings a tear to my eye.

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 19 May 11 - 01:15 AM

The first one she married was Mahler/Whose buddies all knew him as Gustav/Whenever he'd see her he'd holler/Ach, zat is die Fraulein I mustav!

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: mrdux
Date: 19 May 11 - 01:22 AM

Their marriage, however, was murder.
He'd scream to the heavens above:
"I'm writing das Lied von der Erde,
And she only wants to make love!"

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: autolycus
Date: 19 May 11 - 08:57 AM

Love the verses; and pleased this didn't get me kicked off the site.

About the 10th,Just to say that tho' himself didn't complete it, he did write the essential thread of the work from first bar to last. There have been at least half-a-dozen performing versions [not completions] which give us one symphony.
Even if he didn't finish it, nobody else could have written it, and it's one of the great symphonies, shirley.

My own out-an-out favourite is the 6th. One performance i went to, here in Norwich had me in tears for about 10 minutes after.

Thanks so much for the responses

Ivor

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 19 May 11 - 10:29 AM

At Mudcat we must mention Mahler's deep involvement in folk music, Czech, Austrian/Viennese, German, Jewish, Catholic, military etc. He frequently quoted these folkloristic styles in his symphonies, and of course in his vocal music. Some of his adaptations are bluntly sentimental, but many are pearls, e.g. "Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt", which made its way into the fourth symphony.

In Budapest, he taught the natives to appreciate their own folklore and national music, beyond gypsy and operetta clichés.

Subject: RE: Centenary of death of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
From: Midchuck
Date: 19 May 11 - 11:41 AM

Alma, tell us;
All modern women are jealous.
'Tho you didn't even use Ponds,
You got Gustav and Walter and Franz.

P