conductor-composer

the first time i heard gustav mahler's 5th symphony performed, before even reading the program notes, i cried through the story i heard from stage; one of tragedy and triumph. it moved me so much, in fact, that i am using the movements as a structure to write a book in honor of my mentor. born in kalischt, bohemia (now kalist, czech republic) in 1860, he is known for composing around themes of struggle, death and victory.

listening to his symphony no. 1 in D major "titan", i was even more convinced of his genius, although audiences and critics of his time had strong reactions against it and he was even avoided by some friends after it's debut. this time i heard a hero's tale, akin to great classic literary works. his ability to juxtapose ironic and complex themes is unparalleled in the musical world. according to mahler, "the hero is exposed to the most fearful combats and to all the sorrows of the world...it is the most spontaneous and daringly composed of my works. only when the character has triumphed over death and when all the glorious memories of youth have returned with themes from the first movement...there is a great victorious chorale!"


he was primarily a conductor, only having time to compose during the summers. i wonder if his role in conducting influenced the richness of passing themes around the symphony sections? and, while he follows classic composition structures, to me his work speaks in narrative much more than other more formulaic musicians of his time period. "composing is like playing with building blocks, " he said to a friend, "where new buildings are created again and again, using the same blocks."



i hope mahler, who died may 18, 1911 in vienna at age 50, could hear last night's standing ovation.