Mahler's Ninth Symphony (1909)
Feb 25, 2016 8:38:11 GMT -5
Post by Uncle Henry on Feb 25, 2016 8:38:11 GMT -5
Members will remember the tubby little fellow who played Liszt's second concerto so skilfully in an earlier thread. Well, here he is again, this time as a conductor, directing Mahler's ninth symphony in the capital city of a reunited Germany. Once upon a time he was not so tubby, as may be seen here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Barenboim
Which is more difficult, playing the pianoforte or conducting the orchestra? Almost certainly the first I would say, but perhaps some people find themselves at home at a keyboard. They are "naturals" at the pianoforte are they not. But every one can wave his arms.
The composer himself - also a prominent conductor - lived from 1860 to 1911. His ninth symphony was completed by 1909, but performed first only in June 1912, under Bruno Walter's direction. It comprises four movements in a variety of keys, and has many interesting bits:
1: Andante comodo (D major)
2: Im Tempo eines gemächlichen Ländlers. Etwas täppisch und sehr derb (like a folk-song - rather sly and very dry - dear oh dear!) (C major)
3: Rondo-Burleske: Allegro assai. Sehr trotzig (quite fast and very perverse) (A minor)
4: Adagio. Sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend (very slow, and hesitant into the bargain) (D-flat major)
A brief analysis with thematic examples may be found here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_(Mahler)
In the thirties, forties and fifties of the last century Mahler's work went out of favour for a while in Britain and Germany, but it is all the rage at present, despite those gemächlichen Ländler.
Sample images:
Members may now go on THROUGH HERE.
Which is more difficult, playing the pianoforte or conducting the orchestra? Almost certainly the first I would say, but perhaps some people find themselves at home at a keyboard. They are "naturals" at the pianoforte are they not. But every one can wave his arms.
The composer himself - also a prominent conductor - lived from 1860 to 1911. His ninth symphony was completed by 1909, but performed first only in June 1912, under Bruno Walter's direction. It comprises four movements in a variety of keys, and has many interesting bits:
1: Andante comodo (D major)
2: Im Tempo eines gemächlichen Ländlers. Etwas täppisch und sehr derb (like a folk-song - rather sly and very dry - dear oh dear!) (C major)
3: Rondo-Burleske: Allegro assai. Sehr trotzig (quite fast and very perverse) (A minor)
4: Adagio. Sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend (very slow, and hesitant into the bargain) (D-flat major)
A brief analysis with thematic examples may be found here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_(Mahler)
In the thirties, forties and fifties of the last century Mahler's work went out of favour for a while in Britain and Germany, but it is all the rage at present, despite those gemächlichen Ländler.
Sample images:
Members may now go on THROUGH HERE.
