The Cambridge Companion to Mahler (Cambridge Companions to Music)

In the years approaching the centenary of Mahler's death, this book provides both summation of, and starting point for, an assessment and reassessment of the composer's output and creative activity. Authored by a collection of leading specialists in Mahler scholarship, its opening chapters place the composer in socio-political and cultural contexts, and discuss his work in light of developments in the aesthetics of musical meaning. Part II examines from a variety of analytical, interpretative and critical standpoints the complete range of his output, from early student works and unfinished fragments to the sketches and performing versions of the Tenth Symphony. Part III evaluates Mahler's role as interpreter of his own and other composers' works during his lifelong career as operatic and orchestral conductor. Part IV addresses Mahler's fluctuating reception history from scholarly, journalistic, creative, public and commercial perspectives, with special attention being paid to his compositional legacy. Chronology: Introduction: Marginalia on Mahler today Jeremy Barham; Part I. Cultural Contexts: 1. Socio-political landscapes: reception and biography Peter Franklin; 2. The literary and philosophical worlds of Gustav Mahler Morten Solvik; 3. Music and aesthetics Vera Micznik; Part II. Mahler the Creative Musician: 4. Juvenilia and early works: from the first song fragments to Das klagende Lied Jeremy Barham; 5. Song and symphony (I). Lieder und Gesänge Vol.1, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and the First Symphony: compositional patterns for the future Zoltan Roman; 6. Song and song-symphony (I). Des Knaben Wunderhorn and the Second, Third and Fourth Symphonies: music of heaven and earth Peter Revers; 7. Song and symphony (II). From Wunderhorn to Rückert and the middle-period symphonies: vocal and instrumental works for a new century Stephen E. Hefling; 8. The 'greatest' and the 'most personal': the Eighth Symphony and Das Lied von der Erde Christian Wildhagen; 9. The last works Jörg Rothkamm; Part III. Mahler the Re-creative Musician: 10. Mahler as conductor in the opera house and concert hall Herta Blaukopf; 11. Arrangements and Retuschen - Mahler and Werktreue David Pickett; Part IV. Reception and Performance: 12. Issues in Mahler reception: historicism and misreadings after 1960 Christoph Metzger; 13. The history of the International Gustav Mahler Society in Vienna and the complete critical edition Reinhold Kubik; 14. Musical languages of love and death: Mahler's compositional legacy Stephen Downes; 15. Mahler conducted and recorded: from the concert hall to DVD Lewis M. Smoley; 16. New research paths in criticism, analysis and interpretation John Williamson; Appendix. Introduction : Marginalia On Mahler Today / Jeremy Barham -- Socio-politcal Landscapes : Reception And Biography / Peter Franklin -- The Literary And Philosophical Worlds Of Gustav Mahler / Morten Solvik -- Music And Aesthetics : The Programmatic Issues / Vera Micznik -- Juvenilia And Early Works : From The First Song Fragments To Das Klagende Lied / Jeremy Barham -- Song And Symphony (i). Lieder Und Gesänge Volume 1, Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen And The First Symphony : Compositional Patterns For The Future / Zoltan Roman -- Song And Song-symphony (i). Des Knaben Wunderhorn And The Second, Third And Fourth Symphonies : Music Of Heaven And Earth / Peter Revers -- Song And Symphony (ii). From Wunderhorn To Rückert And The Middle-period Symphonies : Vocal And Instrumental Works For A New Century / Stephen E. Hefling -- The 'greatest' And The 'most Personal' : The Eighth Symphony And Das Lied Von Der Erde / Christian Wildhagen -- The Last Works / Jörg Rothkamm -- Mahler As Conductor In The Opera House And Concert Hall / Herta Blaukopf -- Arrangements And Retuschen : Mahler And Werktreue / David Pickett -- Issues In Mahler Reception : Historicism And Misreadings After 1960 / Christoph Metzger -- The History Of The International Gustav Mahler Society In Vienna And The Complete Critical Edition / Reinhold Kubik -- Musical Languages Of Love And Death : Mahler's Compositional Legacy / Stephen Downes -- Mahler Conducted And Recorded : From The Concert Hall To Dvd / Lewis M. Smoley -- New Research Paths In Criticism, Analysis And Interpretation / John Williamson. Edited By Jeremy Barham. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 319-342) And Index. Frontmatter 2 Introduction: Marginalia on Mahler today 27 Part One: Cultural contexts 31 1 Socio-political landscapes: reception and biography 33 2 The literary and philosophical worlds of Gustav Mahler 47 3 Music and aesthetics: the programmatic issue 61 Part Two: Mahler the creative musician 77 4 Juvenilia and early works: from the first song fragments to Das klagende Lied 79 5 Song and symphony (I). Lieder und Gesänge Volume 1, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and the First Symphony: compositional patterns for the future 100 6 Song and song-symphony (I). Des Knaben Wunderhorn and the Second, Third and Fourth Symphonies: music of heaven and earth 117 7 Song and symphony (II). From Wunderhorn to Rückert and the middle-period symphonies: vocal and instrumental works for a new century 136 8 The 'greatest' and the 'most personal': the Eighth Symphony and Das Lied von der Erde 156 9 The last works 171 Part Three: Mahler the re-creative musician 191 10 Mahler as conductor in the opera house and concert hall 193 11 Arrangements and Retuschen: Mahler and Werktreue 206 Part Four: Reception and performance 229 12 Issues in Mahler reception: historicism and misreadings after 1960 231 13 The History of the International Gustav Mahler Society in Vienna and the Complete Critical Edition 245 14 Musical languages of love and death Mahler's compositional legacy 254 15 Mahler conducted and recorded: from the concert hall to DVD 271 16 New research paths in criticism, analysis and interpretation 290 Appendix: selected discography 303 Notes 322 Bibliography 347 Index 362 This book's opening chapters place Mahler in socio-political and cultural contexts, and discuss his work in light of developments in the aesthetics of musical meaning. Part II examines from a variety of analytical, interpretative and critical standpoints the complete range of his output, from early student works and unfinished fragments to the sketches and performing versions of the Tenth Symphony. Part III evaluates Mahler's role as interpreter of his own and other composers' works during his lifelong career as operatic and orchestral conductor. Part IV addresses Mahler's fluctuating reception history from scholarly, journalistic, creative, public and commercial perspectives, with special attention being paid to his compositional legacy. -- publisher description