h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.h2g2.com/A448391

Mahler's music is immensely popular in the concert hall. This article is an introduction to the man and the music.

Wouldn't you just DIE without Mahler?


When I'm in the mood, there's nothing that can quite compare. Thank you for writing such a good and comprehensive introduction.

A couple of tiny comments:
You say he didn't do concertos, operas or piano music because "he wanted to be remembered". Quite a few composers of these types have survived - often better than the composers of song cycles

You could also mention that the Kindertotenlieder cycle ties in with the tragic early death of Mahler's own daughter Anna Maria, a few years after he wrote it.

You could maybe mention where and when these works were premiered, since as you say his composing genius was not really recognised in his own lifetime. Did Mahler himself conduct them?

Other than that, a veritable tour de force!

GVI

PS - Did anyone recognise the movie quote?

I'm guessing it's not from a western. Am I getting warmer?

Very interesting. I never would have guessed there was anything Chinese about 'Das Lied Von Der Erde'. You live and learn.

JTG

Educating Rita!

What was the name of the actress? She did "Beatty" in the B.T. ads. Something like Marjorie Proops.

What Mahler symphony was playing when she attempted suicide?

I know that writers of concertos, piano music, etc, have been remembered, but nevertheless, this was Mahler's reason for not writing them.

When Mahler wrote Kindertotenlieder, it was commemorating the death of the child of a friend of his. While it's "a little bit spooky" to think his own child died afterwards, it really has nothing to do with anything.

A prize to Gnomon, please, Igor!

Yes, it was Maureen Lipman, as Rita's landlady, and the irony was indeed that listening to Mahler drove her to try to kill herself in the end. I'm not sure exactly what piece was playing, though.

Thanks, Gnomon, I was going to write an entry on Mahler myself! This one is good, but maybe you could say a bit more on some of the symphonies. You don't mention the poor old 7th at all, and I think it might be worth commenting on the various foreshadowings of the 6th. Maybe you should also clarify why he only wrote symphonies and songs: not simply to be remembered, but they were the best medium for getting his message across. And also... sorry, these aren't meant as criticisms of your article as such, just things I was thinking about for what I would write... anyway, maybe a few general comments on his upbringing that are relevant to the music would be useful? Final small comment: maybe 'Das klagende lied' merits a mention; there have been a few good recordings in recent years.

A few handy Mahler quotes:
When he first saw Niagara Falls, he said 'Fortissimo at last!'
I think it was in conversation with Sibelius that he said something along the lines of 'symphonies should contain the world'.
And my own favourite: 'We do not compose. We are composed'.

I've made a few changes to the Entry:

- Some very brief biographical details.
- Something about the 7th symphony.
- Das Klagende Lied

I have to admit that I'd never heard of this last one. Although I am officially a researcher, I don't do any research. These entries come straight out of my head on subjects that I think I know. There will of course be occasional omissions.

What's a good translation for Das Klagende Lied? The Babel Fish gives "The Complaining Song", but this sounds like "There's a hole in my bucket", so I've entered it as "The Song of Despair". Does anyone know a better title?

I'm not a believer in matching the moods of Mahler's symphonies to the various things that were happening in his life. The message of the symphonies was supposed to be universal, not a personal biography, so I've included very little of this in the article. I particularly don't like associating things in the symphonies with events that happened *later* in Mahler's life, as I don't believe in precognition. Mahler's fear of death was just neurotic.

Gnomon: Those small changes made a big difference! Glad I could be of some help. Good point on the personal/universal thing, too.

I don't actually remember a specific English title for 'Das Klagende Lied'. Song of Lament, maybe? One nitpick: it's not a song cycle as such, but a 'dramatic cantata' in 3 parts telling a tale of fratricide.

Thanks for that, Xedni.

Does anyone else want to recommend my Entry or is it just going to fade into oblivion?

Gnomon

Hi Gnomon,

I'm pleased to be able to tell you that the Powers at the Towers shared my high opinion of your article, and it has gone forward to the next stage in the Editing process. It will take some time to progress from there to full Edited status, but the journey has begun. Congratulations.

GVI

Hurray!

Editorial Note: This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review forum because this entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

Congratulations!