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Gustav mahler

Gustav mahler. His life, his music, his legacy. Early life. Born on J uly 7, 1860 in K alischt , Bohemia. Spent his childhood in Jihlava . Had a knack for music, and took piano lessons at age 6. Early career. Entered Vienna Conservatory at age 15. Studied piano under Julius Epstein.

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Gustav mahler

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  1. Gustav mahler His life, his music, his legacy

  2. Early life • Born on July 7, 1860 in Kalischt, Bohemia. • Spent his childhood in Jihlava. • Had a knack for music, and took piano lessons at age 6.

  3. Early career • Entered Vienna Conservatory at age 15. • Studied piano under Julius Epstein. • Studied harmony with Robert Fuchs. • Studied composition alongside Franz Krenn.

  4. Studies • Mahler studied music and philosophy, as well as history. • He worked as a teacher. • Composed his first major Cantata, Das Klagende Lied.

  5. Various careers • In 1880, Mahler began his career as conductor at Bad Hall. • Ljublijana in 1881 • Olomouc in 1882 • Vienna in 1883 • Kassel in 1883 • Prague in 1885 • Leipzig in 1886 • Budapest in 1888

  6. Time of growth • In 1887, he conducted Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. • This time period was imperative to the growth of his fame and reputation. • Mahler conducted carl Maria von weber’s unfinished opera Die drei Pintos. • In 1897, Mahler becomes conductor of the Vienna Opera.

  7. The new century • Mahler conducted revisions of Schumann’s Symphonies No. 2 and 4. • On March 9, 1902 Gustav marries Alma Schindler. • They have two daughters.

  8. Three blows of fate • As Mahler illustrates in the last movement of his 6th symphony, he himself received three blows of fate. • His daughter passed away of diphtheria at the young age of 4. • In 1907, he stepped down from the position of conductor of the Vienna Opera. • He was diagnosed with heart disease that later killed him. • Mahler was left grief-stricken and was in emotional shambles.

  9. Later life • He conducted the Metropolitan opera in New York in 1908. • He then went back to Europe. • He received counseling for marital problems. • He then moved to America, where he conducted the New-York Philharmonic Orchestra.

  10. Final days • During this time period, he also completed his work das Lied der Erde (The Song of the Earth). • He also completed his Symphony No. 9. • Mahler suddenly became ill with a blood infection. • Gustav Mahler died on May 18, 1911 at the age of 50. • His Symphony No. 10 was left unfinished.

  11. The legacy he left behind • Gustav Mahler will always be remembered as one of the most influential musicians and conductors of his time, and his music will continue to ring in the halls of Symphonies across the world.

  12. Background of the piece • Symphony No. 6 is also called “Tragic”. • This is enigma to both listeners and critics, because it was written during one of the most happiest periods of his life. • He had a wonderful family, and spent much time with them. • This mood is consistent throughout the first two movements of the symphony.

  13. Background of the piece • The fourth movement is often described as Mahler’s own fate. • He predicted that he himself would receive three blows of fate, and by the year 1907, he had. • The fourth movement illustrated the pain and agony of the three blows of fate.

  14. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • Beginning- Starts out with 2 dramatic strikes on the snare drum. The snare drum is a membraphone, which means it produces sound by a vibrating membrane or skin. Melody is conjunct. The piece starts out with the leading melody in the first violins. This is very common, as the first violins usually carry the melody, while the seconds have a second, underlying melody, or they might even have the harmony. The first thing I notice about the piece is how it is dark in tone. I have synesthesia, so I relate color to the music I am hearing. The music from the get-go sounds very green and black in color. Another thing I notice is the conversation going on between the instruments. It stars with the drums and strings, but at second 0:11, the winds answer with a descending scale.

  15. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -0:20, The percussion enters, and the snare drums beats are forte (f). • - 0:23, Percussion and snare drums go to a piano (p), and bassoons respond. • -Through seconds 0:00-0:45, the motif is repeated in all of the sections of the orchestra. • -0:45, A high pitch is sustained first in violins, then in piccolos and flutes, while the bassoons have low, ominous, march-like beats. • -1:15, Triangle enters. • -1:16, The color of the tone changes, and it sounds major. • -1:21, It goes back to sounding dark, and minor.

  16. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -1:36, Trills in the higher woodwinds. • -1:55, Descending chromatic scale first in violins, then in lower brass. • -2:02, Pizzicato in strings. • -2:07, Stillness before the storm type feeling, everything clams down. • -2:13, Oboe solo. • -2:25, Violins enter with melody.

  17. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -2:40, Domination of brass, accelerato. • -2:44, Goes back to a Tempo. • -3:15, Waltz-like feeling and pulse. • -3:28, New phrase begins. • -3:40, back to a Tempo. • -3:51, Violins have ascending major scale, then jump down an octave, melody is disjunct.

  18. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -4:03, Strings play out at a forte (f) or fortissimo (ff). • -4:10, Tempo speeds up. • -4:22-Goes back to a Tempo again, low ominous beats in snare drums. • -4:28, Blaring notes in brass section. • -4:47, Music sounds curious, explorative, sneaky. • -5:00, Pizzicato in strings.

  19. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -5:07, Cymbals enter. • -5:10, Melody in trumpets, melody jumping in intervals of more than 2 notes, so disjunct. • -5:25, Xylophone enters. • -5:46, Slows way down, the pulse stops, threatening, dark line in low winds, alternating between 2 notes. • -6:08, I got the image of an abandoned haunted house on a lonely hilltop with lightening flashing in background, music paints a very dark tone. • -6:44, Music becomes fortissimo (ff), giant crescendo, sustained note in piccolos, and flute, and pulse speeds up again.

  20. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -7:04, Tone becomes sweet, playful, and docile. • -7:24, I got the image of innocent deer taking a nap in the meadow, the tone is fluff-like, and I see the colors yellow and pink. • -7:37, Pulse speeds up, dramatic, thundering sound. • -7:45, Back to previous tempo, and timbre, there is pizzicato again in violins. • -7:53, Melody is again dominant in violins, and the phrase sounds arch-shaped. • -8:17, Descending harmony in lower strings.

  21. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -8:34, Triangle enters. • -8:47, Cellos and bass have moving harmony that is low in pitch. • -9:27, Low brass has minor, descending line. • -9:47, Trill in flutes and piccolos. • -10:00, Harp is noticeable. • -10;12, Music becomes loud and intense, tone is shrill.

  22. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -10:30, Winds play original motif. • -10:50, the whole orchestra has a sustained note. • -10:59, Flutes have a glissando • -11:05, low sustained note in brass. • -11:11, Entry of violin solo. • -11:20, Solo is a disjunct melody.

  23. Mahler’s sixth symphony mvt. Iii scherzo:wuchtig • -11:32, Oboe has arpeggio. • -11:36, Violin pizzicato. • -11:49, Moving line in cellos. • -12:21, Music fades away.

  24. References • Schiavo, P. (2013, January 1). Seattle Symphony. Mahler's Sixth Symphony. Retrieved June 19, 2014, from http://www.seattlesymphony.org/symphony/buy/single/production.aspx?id=13613&src=t • Symphony No. 6 (Mahler). (2014, June 19). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 19, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._6_(Mahler) • Oron, A. (2009, May 1). Gustav Mahler (Composer, Arranger) - Short Biography. Gustav Mahler (Composer, Arranger) - Short Biography. Retrieved June 19, 2014, from http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Mahler-Gustav.htm • Ramos, P. (n.d.). Classical Net - Classical Music Information & Reviews. Classical Net - Basic Repertoire List - Mahler. Retrieved June 19, 2014, from http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/mahler.php

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