Rate this book

Why Mahler?: How One Man And Ten Symphonies Changed Our World (2010)

by Norman Lebrecht(Favorite Author)

3.45 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0375423818 (ISBN13: 9780375423819)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Pantheon

review 1: To really get something out of this book you should have some exposure to Gustav Mahler's music. Most likely you wouldn't read this unless you did, but sometimes I pick up books for the heck of it, so no judgements.The book covers a history of Mahler to help the reader better understand the period Gustav grew up in and participated in as an adult in the mid 1800's to 1911. This is done to enhance the understanding of how Mahler approached writing his symphonies. The book breaks down each of the 10 - the 10th being unfinished at M's death.Why do I like Mahler? Listening to the different periods of classical music I stumbled onto this composer. What jumped out to me was the variation of themes and the complexity (I like the 6th) and that he wasn't trying to construct everyth... moreing just to be pretty or entertaining. His music could be describes as a cross between Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and Brahms - but not quite.His symphonies dealt with philosophical ideas and he used the language he understood best to work them out - music. The books lays the groundwork for M trying to understand and structure the sounds he heard into some kind of of order or pattern. He heard music in everything - the wind, cow bells, church bells, and he used these in his music.There's also a high level of truth about reality to his music. He doesn't write dances, or music to be played at parties. As a composer he was embraced and despised at the same time. Musically, and because of his ethnicity. The idea is that nothing is permanent and things are not what they always appear to be. I observe the same type of musical variation, building of moments, and non-conformity in the music of early Genesis (Gabriel, Banks, Collins, Rutherford, Hackett).
review 2: I love Mahler and was looking for an easy to read biography. This is book is hopelessly flawed as Lebrecht is simply not objective and his analysis is from the perspective of a love sick admirer. This also effects his style of writing. That said if you want to know the bare outline of Mahler's life it is a quick and easy read. The other positive is that your knowledge of music need only be minimal but you must be familiar with all of Mahler's music. less

Download links for: Why Mahler?: How One Man and Ten Symphonies Changed Our World

Advertising