Posted by Alex on January 12, 19103 at 01:05:39:

In Reply to: Re: Mahler and Death posted by John Rasmussen on January 10, 19103 at 15:25:24:

I believe that Mahler perceieved death much the same as would a frightened child, unable to sleep and crying. Such a thought is so universal, and the resulting emotion so powerful that it is abundantly clear in many of Mahler's works, particularly the 'Trauermarsch' (funeral march) of the Fifth.
I have not heard all of Mahler's music (for that matter what I have heard of music in general as a 17 year old is somewhat limited), but I believe this work to be the most powerful.
All music transcends other forms of expression as a direct communication of pure emotion. In listening to Mahler's music, and specifically among those of his works concerned with death, is how I first became acquainted with the power of music.
As to the first movement of the fifth, from what I have read it incorporates memories from mahler's childhood (the trumpet tattoo a memory of an army unit of some sort stationed near him), that, it would seem, sparked some kind of obsession with death that mahler had. It is said that the song (which in structure and length more closely resembles a symphony) that Mahler wrote in between the Eighth and the Ninth, whose name escapes me, was written as a song and not a symphony because Mahler was afraid to die, as many composers in the past have, after writifng his Ninth symphony.
An unrelated story:
I was driving down the New Jersey turnpike (I live in ia) listening to the first movement of the fifth. It was when I was first becoming acquainted with it, but knew enough to know where it was going (it is vital, i think, when understanding complicated music to have some conception of the direction of the piece). The oboe enters with an apreggio, and interacts with the higher br(namely the trumpet) to form the most beautiful feeling I have ever felt/heard. So i was driving down the turnpike, the ugliest most depressing place in the world, crying my eyes out. It the first time I had actually been moved to such a state by music. The hateful occupants of other cars just rolled thier eyes thinking "freak..."
If you want some specific technical citations about Mahler, the internet is a great resource. Adante had some pretty in depth articles, and I'm sure you'll encounter better and more technical articles by searching.

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• Re: Mahler and Death John Rasmussen 18:33:49 1/12/103 (0)

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