Mahler s Das Lied von der Erde

1. Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde Genesis

2. Preamble: Music Biography prehistory: mythology 18th–early 19th c.: romantic heros the later 19th c.: documentation the early 20th c.: style instead of life and work (Guido Adler) the later 20th c.: explanatory tool in the study of creativity emancipation (race, class, gender…)

3. Article only since Grove7 (2001) Proponents of biography see its resurgence in terms of a renewed emphasis on the individual, as part of a search for meaning and as embodying a need to find exemplary models. But the revival of biographical modes of exploration has not gone unchallenged, with some critics concerned about tendencies that would impose on the life a fairly restrictive array of mythic, narrative or other extramusical structures. (Maynard Solomon, “Biography”)

4. ?? (???????) ???????????19???????????????????1860?7?7??????????????????1911?5?18???????1876?????????????????????A.?1877~1879???????????1880?????????????????????????????1897~1907???????????????(????)???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????…? — ???

5. Mahler on Composing and Living “It is fabulous here; if only once in my life I could enjoy such things after the completion of a work! For that […] is the only moment in which one is truly capable of enjoyment.” (beginning of vacation 1908, feeling sick and no progress in composing) “A beautiful time was granted me, and I believe it is the most personal thing I have yet created.” (end of vacation 1908, after draft of LvE)

6. Mahler on Composing and Living “only when I experience do I compose, and only when I compose do I experience.” (1897) cf. Rückert, “I never think without poetizing and never poetize without thinking.”

7. Ex. Chopin Samson, Jim. “Myth and Reality: A Biographical Introduction.” In The Cambridge Companion to Chopin, edited by Samson, 1–8. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.

8. Mahler (Encyclopaedia Britannica) Austrian-Jewish composer and conductor noted for his 10 symphonies and various songs with orchestra, which drew together many different strands of Romanticism. Although his music was largely ignored for 50 years after his death, Mahler was later regarded as an important forerunner of 20th-century techniques of composition and an acknowledged influence on such composers as Arnold Schoenberg, Dmitry Shostakovich, and Benjamin Britten […] In terms of the personal content of his art, it can be said of Mahler, more than of any other composer, that he lived out the spiritual torment of disinherited modern man in his art, and that the man is the music. — Deryck V. Cooke

10. The Austrian Habsburg Domains until 1795

11. Austrian Empire, 1815-59

12. Austro-Hungarian & German Empires during Mahler's Time

13. Professional Life: Conductor 1880 began career as conductor 1888–91 director of the Budapest Opera 1891–97 chief conductor of Hamburg Opera 1897–1907 conductor, then director of the Vienna Court Opera 1898 also conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts 1907–11 conductor of the Metropolitan Opera 1909 also conductor of the New York Philharmonic

14. A Supermodern Conductor Maestro Madman conducts his Diabolic Symphony

15. Professional Life: Composer 1878–99 Das klagende Lied 1880–90 Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit 1883–96 Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen 1884–1906 Sym. 1 1888–1903 Sym. 2 1892—98 Lieder aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn 1893–1906 Sym. 3 1892–1910 Sym. 4

16. Professional Life: Composer 1899–1902 7 Lieder aus letzter Zeit (nos.3–7: ‘Rückert-Lieder’ ) 1901–1902 Sym. 5 1901–04 Kindertotenlieder (Rückert) 1903–06 Sym. 6 1904–05 Sym. 7 1906–07 Sym. 8 1908–09 Das Lied von der Erde 1908–09 Sym. 9 1910– Sym. 10 (unfinished)

17. Tragic Symphony “My God, how come I’ve forgotten the bugle! Now I can write another symphony.”

18. Mahler’s Metamorphoses Wagner Liszt Meyerbeer Schubert Beethoven Viennese folkore

19. Private Life – grown up in Iglau 1875 entered the Vienna Conservatory piano with Epstein, harmony with Robert Fuchs and composition with Franz Krenn 1877 entered the Vienna University 1889 death of father, a sister, and mother Maria 1895 suicide of a young brother 1902 married Alma Maria (20, Mahler 41) – dearest sister and long time companion, Justine (32), also married on the next day – birth of daugther Maria, then 1904 Anna

21. Private Life: Crisis of 1907 June conflicts with the Vienna Opera  led to contract with the MET July death of Maria Mahler’s heart problem diagnosed Dec. left Vienna for New York (summer months returned to Europe for conducting and composing)

22. Maiernigg1905

23. Alma &Maria1907

24. Private Life: The Last Years 1908–09: summer retreat moved from Maiernigg to Toblach (now Dobbiaco), started composing LvE and Sym. 9 1910: marital crisis, sketched Sym. 10 Sym. 8 premiered and dedictated to Alma 1911 February: fatal disease diagnosed returned to Vienna via Paris died in Vienna on May 18

25. Letter of 1910,asking the publisher to print the dedication To my dear wife Alma Maria

26. Du allein weisst, was es bedeutet Ach! Ach! Ach! Leb’ wol mein Saitenspiel! Leb wol… You alone know what it means Oh! Oh! Oh! Farewell my lyre! farewell…

27. The Alps

28. Maiernigg(Wörthersee, Carinthia)

29. Composing Cabin in Altschluderbach(Dobbiaco, South Tyrol)

30. ManonGropiusAlma 1916

31. ManonGropius(1916–35)Alban Berg: Violin Concerto“To the memory of an angel”(I, II [Bach citation])