One of the most poignantly beautiful movements in all symphonic literature! Mahler was in many ways the Last Expression of the Excruciating Loveliness of a Doomed, Moribund Civilization.
Mahler (1860-1911) died just before the outbreak of the First World War. Most great artists seem gifted with Second Sight –– true Art is always far ahead of the curve. The very nature of Mahler's music bears this out. I have always sensed from the pathos, intense longing and melancholic nature of his music that Mahler knew what was coming.
Unlike Richard Strauss (1864-1949) who survived the two world wars and suffered terribly from the loss of everything he had loved and beieved in, Mahler did not live to experience the devastation and seismic changes in mores and values that followed the terrifying, cataclysmic events that characterized and defined the first half of the twentieth century –– asnd Beyond..
Given Mahler's incredibly sweet, sensitive nature it almost seems a blessing that his life was cut short in time to miss horrors that surely would have made his continued existence a living hell.
There is certainly an aira of great affection, woshipful devotion and incredible sweetness in the Larghetto of Mahler's Fifth Symphony, but it has always seemed overlaid with a curious quality I could only describe as "exquisite agony."
Emotions of this rarified sort, as Thornton Wilder would say, are rarely experienced by any save the Saints and Poets. Since great music is in essence a distinct form of poetry, Mahler must be counted amng the greatest poets who ever lived.
Thank you for posting this perfect antidote to the pain engendered by the incessant aggravation and tedious, expressions of disingenuous outrage over an scrupulously contrived scenario cynically designed to assassinate a wonderful person's reputatiion and character solely to serve a rabidly spiteful, envy-inspired desire for vengeance against somene whose only offense was in simply being a Better Man than anyone these rapacious, unprincipled cynics had to offer.
I am not as verbose as your other comments here.... just say today is not the day for Mahler for me!!! I guess 76 trombones is more for me this weekend.... but I tried to listen,.. really did..,, :)
It's a neverending source of fascination to see how eagerly malignant, narcissistic personalities proudly reveal themselves to be exactly what they are.
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One of the most poignantly beautiful movements in all symphonic literature! Mahler was in many ways the Last Expression of the Excruciating Loveliness of a Doomed, Moribund Civilization.
ReplyDeleteMahler (1860-1911) died just before the outbreak of the First World War. Most great artists seem gifted with Second Sight –– true Art is always far ahead of the curve. The very nature of Mahler's music bears this out. I have always sensed from the pathos, intense longing and melancholic nature of his music that Mahler knew what was coming.
Unlike Richard Strauss (1864-1949) who survived the two world wars and suffered terribly from the loss of everything he had loved and beieved in, Mahler did not live to experience the devastation and seismic changes in mores and values that followed the terrifying, cataclysmic events that characterized and defined the first half of the twentieth century –– asnd Beyond..
Given Mahler's incredibly sweet, sensitive nature it almost seems a blessing that his life was cut short in time to miss horrors that surely would have made his continued existence a living hell.
There is certainly an aira of great affection, woshipful devotion and incredible sweetness in the Larghetto of Mahler's Fifth Symphony, but it has always seemed overlaid with a curious quality I could only describe as "exquisite agony."
Emotions of this rarified sort, as Thornton Wilder would say, are rarely experienced by any save the Saints and Poets. Since great music is in essence a distinct form of poetry, Mahler must be counted amng the greatest poets who ever lived.
Thank you for posting this perfect antidote to the pain engendered by the incessant aggravation and tedious, expressions of disingenuous outrage over an scrupulously contrived scenario cynically designed to assassinate a wonderful person's reputatiion and character solely to serve a rabidly spiteful, envy-inspired desire for vengeance against somene whose only offense was in simply being a Better Man than anyone these rapacious, unprincipled cynics had to offer.
ReplyDeleteFranco,
DeleteThank you for posting this perfect antidote...
That was my goal!
I am not as verbose as your other comments here.... just say today is not the day for Mahler for me!!!
ReplyDeleteI guess 76 trombones is more for me this weekend.... but I tried to listen,.. really did..,, :)
Not bad. But personally I prefer Maynard Ferguson or Jethro Tull.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAmen, be true to your musical soul. Good music drowns out the bleating of the sheep around us. Though Mahler’s piece is nice for the genre it is.
DeleteIt's a neverending source of fascination to see how eagerly malignant, narcissistic personalities proudly reveal themselves to be exactly what they are.
ReplyDeleteInteresting statement. Indeed, indeed, INDEED.
Delete