As we've all heard a million times over, Mahler's music is full of contrasts. The jolly and the melancholic and chaotic. This is a great tool Mahler uses to create an air of tragic irony. No where is this more apparent in the second symphony.
What makes the second symphony fascinating is the order. It starts with a funeral march, and finishes with a resurrection. That's quite a plot. Bach's St John Passion broadly does the same thing, but that is just, well, a bit boring (apart from the blistering first and last movements). The music contained within the hour and a half symphony is so diverse and progresses so naturally. Variations on themes blossom in to countless different beautiful tunes and melodies with interesting rhythms and textures. Beyond the second symphony, Mahler composed many other symphonies and song cycles, all of them have similarly admirable attributes. Because of this, I cannot stop thinking to myself, how can artists like David Bowie and Elton John possibly be regarded as 'genius' when people like Mahler have walked the earth. David Bowie could write 3 minutes of great music every few years or so, and even that was rarely particularly unique. Gustav Mahler contained an hour and a half of beautiful music in only his second major work. and guess what... There's 8.5 similar symphonies of his, all around an hour plus, that contain endless beautiful music. Rises, falls, misery, joy, faith and love. But of course, David Bowie is more known and respected by the average person. What a world we live in.
Beyond the depths of unintelligent people that prefer David Bowie to Mahler, are a big group of fans of this symphony. Why is it so incredibly popular (in context)? Well the first fact is, and not at all to take away from its credit, it is a big grandstanding, monumental piece. The final movement is a very long Nessun Dorma. And people like these things. Most people do not like subtlety. But as I say, this does not take away from the genius of the piece. There is an hour of incredibly profound music before the advent of the finale. The previous movements render the finale warranted and completely fitting with the evaluation of the musical line that runs throughout the symphony. As well as being extremely popular, this is a profound work of genius. Any intelligent person that knows their stuff should agree.
Personally, I have a funny relationship with this Mahler. This is largely due to my initial reluctance to 'enjoy' and understand Mahler. It really took me an awful lot of time, and I am still not there yet. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. I came from a world of Mozart, Beethoven, Handel and Bach. Mahler, at first, seemed really rather grotesque and excessive. What turned me round was simply, listening to his symphonies a lot. This familiarity grew my understanding of his music in an artistic, not theoretical, way (as with all music I enjoy). Also, watching Bernstein's legendary 'Young People's Concert' on Mahler, and also his Harvard lectures (easily found on YouTube). This grew my appreciation for Mahler, his life, and his tortured soul.
Being a non religious person, I apply my own meaning to the second symphony. Although possibly tacky, I like to think of it as a huge reformation of an individual. He starts off miserable, living a life of chaos. He feels great nostalgia and longs to relive the days of his youth. Finally, he overcomes this constant dread, in the most dramatic possible fashion. The words that sing so beautifully in the finale lament this idea. It may sound a bit fairytaleish, but this is what I like to think.
There is a possibility that Mahler intended this to be the narrative. In the words of Bernstein, he was "one of the most unhappy men in history". His brothers died at an early age, his child died in tragic circumstances, his wife had an affair and left him. He was rejected by everyone. Being Jewish in Austria in the early 20th century was not fun. Lets be clear. This was a profoundly unhappy life.
Maybe, the Resurrection was Mahler's vision for hope. Maybe Mahler dreamed to be reborn, and reborn a happy man.
I like to think reformation of the individual is the philosophy of this symphony.
What makes the second symphony fascinating is the order. It starts with a funeral march, and finishes with a resurrection. That's quite a plot. Bach's St John Passion broadly does the same thing, but that is just, well, a bit boring (apart from the blistering first and last movements). The music contained within the hour and a half symphony is so diverse and progresses so naturally. Variations on themes blossom in to countless different beautiful tunes and melodies with interesting rhythms and textures. Beyond the second symphony, Mahler composed many other symphonies and song cycles, all of them have similarly admirable attributes. Because of this, I cannot stop thinking to myself, how can artists like David Bowie and Elton John possibly be regarded as 'genius' when people like Mahler have walked the earth. David Bowie could write 3 minutes of great music every few years or so, and even that was rarely particularly unique. Gustav Mahler contained an hour and a half of beautiful music in only his second major work. and guess what... There's 8.5 similar symphonies of his, all around an hour plus, that contain endless beautiful music. Rises, falls, misery, joy, faith and love. But of course, David Bowie is more known and respected by the average person. What a world we live in.
Beyond the depths of unintelligent people that prefer David Bowie to Mahler, are a big group of fans of this symphony. Why is it so incredibly popular (in context)? Well the first fact is, and not at all to take away from its credit, it is a big grandstanding, monumental piece. The final movement is a very long Nessun Dorma. And people like these things. Most people do not like subtlety. But as I say, this does not take away from the genius of the piece. There is an hour of incredibly profound music before the advent of the finale. The previous movements render the finale warranted and completely fitting with the evaluation of the musical line that runs throughout the symphony. As well as being extremely popular, this is a profound work of genius. Any intelligent person that knows their stuff should agree.
Personally, I have a funny relationship with this Mahler. This is largely due to my initial reluctance to 'enjoy' and understand Mahler. It really took me an awful lot of time, and I am still not there yet. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. I came from a world of Mozart, Beethoven, Handel and Bach. Mahler, at first, seemed really rather grotesque and excessive. What turned me round was simply, listening to his symphonies a lot. This familiarity grew my understanding of his music in an artistic, not theoretical, way (as with all music I enjoy). Also, watching Bernstein's legendary 'Young People's Concert' on Mahler, and also his Harvard lectures (easily found on YouTube). This grew my appreciation for Mahler, his life, and his tortured soul.
Being a non religious person, I apply my own meaning to the second symphony. Although possibly tacky, I like to think of it as a huge reformation of an individual. He starts off miserable, living a life of chaos. He feels great nostalgia and longs to relive the days of his youth. Finally, he overcomes this constant dread, in the most dramatic possible fashion. The words that sing so beautifully in the finale lament this idea. It may sound a bit fairytaleish, but this is what I like to think.
There is a possibility that Mahler intended this to be the narrative. In the words of Bernstein, he was "one of the most unhappy men in history". His brothers died at an early age, his child died in tragic circumstances, his wife had an affair and left him. He was rejected by everyone. Being Jewish in Austria in the early 20th century was not fun. Lets be clear. This was a profoundly unhappy life.
Maybe, the Resurrection was Mahler's vision for hope. Maybe Mahler dreamed to be reborn, and reborn a happy man.
I like to think reformation of the individual is the philosophy of this symphony.
Comments
Post a Comment