Janet Baker - I Have Lost Track of the World

[planOrama]

u are a digitaly wannabe! next time use your own photos & learn about rythmic editing.

[crysisguy05]

coffe and cigarettes

[orichalcum1]

greatest song ever written for sure - pictures are fine - but need to be slowerrrrrrrrrrrr please... thanks for posting - bless you Dame Janet...

[ghrohrs2020]

Why the wretched slideshow? Is there nothing better, like photos of Janet herself? I just open the video and switch to a different tab to listen while I work.

[varelion]

The best Mahler songs are interspersed with this heavenly sadness. Mahler made his most beautiful songs, when longing for love and eternity

[varelion]

Another reason for his sadness was his experience with perfection and luck. Mahler was aware that luck is hidden and only becomes luck retrospectively when it is lost. Unfulfilled luck and his discontent with the unperfect earthly sphere drove him into his own musical world to which he devoted himself like a fanatic.

His relationship with his wife reflected his connection with the world. She didn't understand his music, he thought she was too immature for him.

[drbarbarabaker]

I like the video where Christa Ludwig sings it with a beautiful smile at the end. It isn't actually sad.

[1psoas9]

THis romantic poem/song takes you into a place where you feel the presence of the OTHER world so strongly that if it is a delusion, it is one you share; you feel you've been there and you know what it's like, purest nep-Platonism anywhere, THis version of this great song is one of the most "convincing."The other great versions, to my mind, are Irmgard seefried's, which isn't even sad, Kathleen Ferrier's, which is heart-breaking, and Lorraine humt Leberson's, ditto. But they're all good.

[1psoas9]

I think the conductor is Barbirolli -- whoever it is, it's fabulous conducting. He listens so beautifully.

[varelion]

The song was written by the romantic poet Friederich Rueckert in 1821. It's part of five poems that Mahler set to Music. The text doesn't mean indifference, apathy or unworldliness but avoiding the troubles of world and politics. "Treating the world as world, but not to be drawn down from the world to the world."

Rueckert had just married when he wrote the songs as Mahler finished them shortly after his marriage. Mahler identified with this poem, saying that it expressed his very self.

[dbrel]

@varelion Thank you! You saved me from doing the research! I still feel a very deep sadness in the music, even though the words suggest otherwise. I think some will relate to this as a "sad" separation from the world...

[varelion]

@dbrel And there is a deep sadness in the music, not in the text. When writing this poem, Rückert had married and an increasing reputation among those in power, but he had enough of worldly and political entanglements. Rückert's retreat into the private and poetic sphere was not a sad one.

Mahler's music adds a inwardly sadness to the text. One reason for this was his experience with lonelyness. His music often was not understood and his striving for perfection nearly made him an outsider.

[dbrel]

@varelion And that is exactly what I feel when listening to or singing this piece -- a very deep, inward sadness. It's very much a feeling of extreme loneliness, but with the most beautiful, incredible music happening around you...

[RatherLargeAllan]

I've just sat and listened to many versions of this piece by Mezzo's and Contraltos. Some with orchestra, some with piano acc. I hate to compare but it must be done. This is a beautiful song. Kožená, Karneus, Baker and Norman (especially Norman) capture that beauty. Kozena & Norman get more of the song but Norman's orchestra sounds bored. I can't avoid choosing the elderly Ferrier. Not only does her voice raise this song to a level beyond beauty but the VPO? are incandescant under Walter.

[utilizator333]

from where I can download it?

[EugenioAmorim]

Really the most beautiful aber also the sadest song ever written. The slideshow... why?

[fugoy]

man, those pix are really annoying ! ! !

[ssballs]

I agree with the 'photo of a mayonnaise jar' comment.The photos are annoyingly distracting.Screen blanked out.

[leahnewyork]

Thank you g-d(dess) for the music of Gustav Mahler, for Janet Baker's singing and the orchestra's performing, and for all the administration, engineering and fossil fuel it took to allow me to listen to this music at will this evening. Sincerely.

[DeSousaPhotography]

WOW! The most beautiful song ever written. Sorry, I didn't saw the slideshow... My eyes were closed

[pianofolle]

mightydaemon u did a fantastic job with pictures, i had pleasant 6 minutes . thank u for this gift

[tigduh09]

This is the most beautiful song I have ever heard! Breathtaking! One can't help reflect on how it is that our world contains so much suffering and yet also contains examples of exquisite beauty such as this. A mystery( to me at least)

[bubba726]

Maybe the most beautiful song ever written??

[pianofolle]

i realize this question is raised and motivated by the exceptional beauty of the piece. But it is in itself not sensible to choose a #1 song among all the masterpieces that have been written

[bubba726]

What is "sensible"?? I do think it is certainly one of the greatest and most beautiful songs every written -- why not share that enthusiasm? That is all this is about. It struck me then, as it does today that this song probably affects me more deeply, more often, than any other.

[liu11]

german opera, lulzzz

[nickfox2]

For anyone who is categorically against straight-toning, go to 4:12 and tell me if you can still claim that with a straight face. And her choice of using it on the word "ruh" is all the more poignant and marvelous and wonderful. Straight-toning, used judiciously and thoughtfully, is one of the greatest expressive tools a singer can use, as Madame Baker so sublimely understood.

[jesusjuanpablo]

Of course is beauty but it will never be better than the original version. As Mahler wrote it, it will be good.

[kybeyan]

I agree with you Nick- possibly the most beautifully sung phrase of all time? I hadn't heard it identified as "straight-toning" before. Another example (?) I've always admired is Schwarzkopf's recording with Szell/LPO of Im Abendrot and in particular the great phrase at 4.45 So tief im Abendrot- is there also a name for that distinctive 'aspirated' phrasing she perfected?

[nickfox2]

Thank you. Yes, straight-toning is just another term for singing or playing without vibrato. Baker's use of it is so poignant because she uses it on 'ruh' to convey the serene stillness of the word, and it's the only time she straight-tones in the entire song. As far as Schwarzkopf is concerned, she had a breathiness to her sound that was one of its attractions. Singing breathily is not a healthy way to sing, but some voices have a natural breathiness to the sound that can be beautiful.

[alejandra379]

Beautiful voice, extraordinary song, fantastic Janet Baker...

........ very lame slideshow...

[mhdinner]

Dame Janet brings such depth and sublimity to this that Mahler may have well written a vocalaise. There are no words to amplify these sentiments. Her last of the Brahms Vier Ernste Gesange runs on a similar course of transcendental beauty. Thanks for posting although the slide show is so completely tangential that one might as well have a steady photo of a mayonnaise jar.

[miuzefreak]

Goooogeous song . Sublime lyrics . Great singer this Dame Janet . Pure therapy for the soul .

[agada2]

great slide show to this song, thanks a lot, I can really connect

[Trinite33]

I truly love Baker, but listen to Ferrier.

[loge10]

I also think that the images do not do justice to the song or the sublime performance of Dame Janet. They seem to be a hodgepodge with no underlying theme and change so quickly as to be distracting.  The song is sublimely serene and the pictures just plow through like the proverbial bull in a china shop.

[babyfreshpony]

please stop ruining this beautiful and delicate musical experience with your inane slideshows. thank you.

ps. JB esta maestra del mundo!

[KozenaFan]

@babyfreshpony Maestra del mundo INDEED!

[Gudrun74]

I am lost to the world with which I used to waste so much time, It has heard nothing from me for so long that it may very well believe that I am dead! It is of no consequence to me Whether it thinks me dead; I cannot deny it, for I really am dead to the world. I am dead to the world's tumult, And I rest in a quiet realm! I live alone in my heaven, In my love and in my song!

[lamsalgado]

Bravo for the comment!

[cxmtl]

thank you

[KozenaFan]

I agree. This song is not sad, but profoundly consoling. Janet Baker's performance is, for me definitive. The winner of the "saddest song ever written" award goes to "Le temps des lilas" from Chausson's "Poeme de l'amour et de la mer."

[johnpizza123]

I definitely agree about the award to Chausson's poem. It brings me goose bumps and tears every time.

To the original poster of the video: the images don't fit the music at all (let alone their speed). Anyway the music is great.

[audreylizzy]

This song isn't sad... Read the text to the end. It's about being so in love that you become lost to the outside world. This was written shortly after Mahler's engagement to Alma Mahler, one of the happiest periods of his life.

[mightydeamon]

did u watch coffee and cigaretes? neverminde, i know the text but song is sad, coz its unfullfilde love

[goldengun85]

Great movie :) I searched for this song after watching it and found this!

[FrancesBaconandEggs]

Same here!

[nihilnisi]

@mightydeamon right now



[Lichtwolf86]

@mightydeamon

I'm Sorry, but audreylizzy is right: it is not sad at all!

It's about not needing the world anymore because you're so happy.

[Hamartova]

@audreylizzy And before that, in 1821, Friedrich RÜCKERT wrote these poems (Liebesfrülings) for his young wife Luise.

Many of his poems were set to music by Franz Schubert, Robert & Clara Schumann, Richard Strauss, Alban Berg, Hugo Wolf, Béla Bartók ... and of course Gustav Mahler (Kintertotenlieder, and these Rückert-lieder).

[Glenmed]

The more I hear Janet Baker, the more I realise that I am in the presence of a true master in this genre. A fellow YouTuber (a musician in a major orchestra) goes further than that in his praise and admiration.

[GummyBearz123]

heres just a mild suggestion, slow down the pictures a little bit so it will go with the flow of the song.

[ellenscheiner]

Have never heard Baker sing one of the Four Last Songs. What a pleasure. Thank you

[metrisch]

This is Mahler, not Strauss' 4LS.

But is beautiful nevertheless :-)

[ellenscheiner]

I am blushing. Of course. This is my first foray into youtube. I even have a recording of JB singing Mahler. And it is beautiful

ES

[prga422]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[jabberwock01]

Lovely images of the world to go with the deep meaning of the song - which is so well sung of course.

[jerzkid87]

anyone know lyrics and translation for them into english? i couldnt even find this song on wikipedia etc.

[hermanzoon]

I have become lost to the world, On which I formerly wasted much time; It has heard nothing for so long from me, It may well believe that I have died! I do not care at all, If it considers me as dead. I also cannot contradict it, For really I have died, Died to the world. It have died to the world's turmoil And rest in a silent domain. I live alone in my heaven, In my love, in my song.

[jerzkid87]

thanks so much

[hermanzoon]

My pleasure. That translation came out of the song collection

Mahler

24 Songs

For Voice and Piano

(low)

Volume IV

International Music Company

New York 10016

(I'm not sure this posted the first time)

[MissCaptainWeird]

beautiful.

[dorotheafayne]

Beautiful performance! Amazing singer! Dorothea

[punkred1]

what cd is this aria from it is so beautiful !

[MoeWesley]

I have heard many recordings of this piece. NONE COMES CLOSE to this transcendent interpretation. It is as if Dame Janet dissolves into the ether before our very ears. Brava. And thank you.

[adapa22]

you are right about the somber dark key Mahler´s original song, but please let us with high voices be blessed with the chance of living through the MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG IN THE WORLD... sad...but the most beautiful song ever...

Thanks Dame Baker! The pictures are beautiful but don´t go along with the rythm and the lyrics of this jewel Masterpiece of MUSIC.

[violinthief]

Nice singing from Dame Baker, but I wish she had sung it in the correct key. Mahler's dark and somber orchestration is considerably brightened here, transposed up a third.

[Oldeagle]

dude, actually this is the original key or F major. Why would a mezzo transpose a song a 3rd higher?

[violinthief]

dude, actually the original key is Eb. You'll have to ask Miss Baker why she transposes it to F. But I also misspoke earlier - she only sings it a step higher, not a third. Her singing is beautiful. What kills it, for me, is hearing the English horn in this key - just doesn't work. Might as well be an oboe.

[Oldeagle]

haha i hate splitting hairs but Mahler's publisher lists the original key as F

[violinthief]

I don't mind hair splitting, but I'm pretty sure you and "Mahler's publisher" are wrong. Kalmus lists Eb as the original key and F as transposed. More importantly, my posted recording with Walter/Ferrier/VPO is in Eb, as is another recording I own of Dieskau/Bohm/Berlin. Dieskau, especially, was not one to transpose keys in lieder. And Bruno Walter knew Mahler better than anyone.

[mastersr]

Actually, you're wrong. Universal Edition, Mahler's publisher during his lifetime, lists the original key as F. Kalmus is a crap American publisher that pirates other editions. As for Bruno Walter, that recording is with Kathleen Ferrier, a contralto. He may have been friends with Mahler, but that doesn't mean he could extend a contralto's range up a few pitches to suit Kalmus' "original" scoring.

[violinthief]

Mastersr, Baker is one of the very few singers to perform this song in F. The overwhelming majority of recordings are in Eb. I sincerely doubt the Berlin or Vienna Philharmonics are playing on Kalmus parts. Jessye Norman and Yvonne Minton both chose to sing it in Eb, and they have much wider ranges than Baker. I still say the weight of the evidence is behind Eb.

[mastersr]

If you google "Mahler original key works" and look at Universal's complete listing of Mahler's works, you'll see "F major, for voice and orchestra, original key / high." Universal Edition published Mahler's works during his lifetime, they have no reason to be tampering with claims of original key. Jessye/Yvonne are wonderful, but I don't think you can argue that the original key is Eb when Mahler's publisher says otherwise.

[violinthief]

I consulted a Mahler expert, and here is what he wrote to me. Mahler originally wrote it in F. He then transposed it to Eb for baritone Friedrich Wiedemann, who premiered the work. In the Eb version, Mahler significantly reworked the orchestration. Therefore, though F is the original key, Eb is more authoritative. Basically, F is the rough draft, and Eb is the final copy.

[mastersr]

Glad we figured it out. ;-)

[nohpiano]

Pedants are so tedious

[mastersr]

Also, DFD transposed stuff all the time - his recording of melodies of Duparc and Chausson with Hartmoll Holl is entirely in the middle keys, while most of the songs' original keys were for high key. In addition to that, a good deal of his recordings of Wolf lieder (both with Moore and Barenboim), are sung in middle key as opposed to the original high key. :-)

[DivaDeb1234]

She is a mezzo SOPRANO! There is that word soprano in the title. It's nice for her to use some of her middle upper range....it's usually more exciting. But I agree....The orchestration was meant for a certain key and it might suffer. Maher was a genious and he seated his keys perfectly...such is show biz.

DIVADEB

[antonaland]

I love the photos and I love Mahler very much, Thanks!