Gustav Mahler. Das Klagende Lied. Complete & Illustrated Part 1 of 9

(Introduction music = 6 minutes) These illustrations add visual information to the music and story. The illustrations, along with the text, highlight the word painting done by Mahler. Sometimes the Waldmärchen being the 1st of the 3 major sections of the piece is left out of modern performances. This first part of the story was rejected by both Brahms and Liszt based on the lyrics. However, the music in this part is possibly the most interesting of all of the piece's sections. The queen is a rough caricature of Elizabeth Wurtzel, the journalist.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gustav
• Mahler
• Das
• Klagende
• Lied
• Illustrated
• Waldmärchen
• Das Klagende Lied
• Gustav Mahler
• Bone Flute
• Brothers Grimm
• Ludwig Bechstein
• Fairy Tale
• Illustration
• Minstrel

[fiolspelare]

Given that the story deals with fratricide, it is interesting to note that Mahler wrote the name Ernst in this score's margins. Ernst Mahler is the name of his recently deceased brother who died of illness in 1875. Gustav was close friends with his brother, a year his junior.

[fiolspelare]

I used several recordings, one of them is done by Pierre Boulez I think.

[Eddy438]

A fascinating early work by GM showing his early Wagnerian influences (mostly Meistersinger as in the opening chorus but the curse is straight out of Alberich in the Ring!)

But alternately the use of material used in the later "Songs of a Wayfarer" where the fratricide victim-to-be is lying under a tree. (in the Wayfarer conclusion, the hero finds solace lying under a linden tree.) Without knowing more about it, though, since Mahler revised "Klagende" twice, it's not clear which use came first.

[fiolspelare]

Yes, thank you for pointing out the Wayfarer reference. @Eddy438

[777wallaby777]

Mahler, the best!

[ErnestoGomezSantan]

@MusicInvestigation Yes, my friend: all the numbers, from 5 to 9 were done using only the great Haitink’s version. It is a shame he took for his interpretation the mutilated score. Fortunately, no one respects any more that cut done by the young Mahler -due to criticisms-, as everybody who tackles the work of Mahler now prefers to respect the great composer.

[MusicInvestigation]

@ErnestoGomezSantan Do you know if Part 9 of 9 in this series is the Haitink or Boulez recording?  And do you mean Haitink never recorded the first movement of this piece? And what do you mean it was removed by the author himself? By Mahler?

[ErnestoGomezSantan]

@joarean

The first part is done by Pierre Boulez and the London Symphony Orchestra. The last two parts are conducted in a very mahlerian way by Bernard Haitink with his Concertgebow Orchestra. Haitink never recorded the first part, as it was sadly removed by the author himself.

[joarean]

Same question: who conducts, who plays and who sings?

[sartorious56]

Conductor/Orchestra?