Page 201 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

ROMANTIC 1810–1920 199

See also: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune 228–231 ■ Le Sacre du printemps
246–251 ■ November Steps 314–315 ■ L’Amour de loin 325

Gustav Mahler

The second of 14 children of
Jewish parents, Mahler was
born in 1860 and spent his
childhood in the Czech-
of unknown regions. The decisive Mahler wrote Das Lied von der Erde speaking town of Iglau (now
impetus for the cult of exoticism while staying at the Hotel Bellevue in Jihlava). He gave his first
came in the 19th century, as the Italian town of Cortina. The peaks piano recital at age 10 and five
European powers busily pursued of the Dolomites provided a dramatic years later entered the Vienna
backdrop for his compositions.
global empire-building rivalries. Conservatory. His cantata Das
At home, industrialization created klagende Lied (1880) showed
rapid growth in towns and cities, east. Operas were set in alluringly amazing early self-awareness,
with populations living and foreign settings, such as Giuseppe exploring a spectral, folk-tale
world in a vivid orchestral
working in oppressive conditions Verdi’s Aida (1871), a fictional story style. A stellar conducting
that generated an inner need for of ancient Egypt. In orchestral career led to the composer’s
psychological escape. music, Russia’s Nikolai Rimsky- appointment in 1897 as artistic
Korsakov based his symphonic director of the Vienna Court
Selling the exotic suite Scheherazade (1888) on Opera. Mahler wrote most
The world of literature latched stories from a collection of Middle of his music—largely song
onto the sales possibilities of exotic Eastern folk tales that became settings and symphonies—
subject matter, as in the South Seas known as The Arabian Nights. The during summers among the
tales of Robert Louis Stevenson French composer Claude Debussy Austrian lakes.
(1850–1894) or the romanticized found the piano especially suitable Departure from the Vienna
Native American world depicted for suggesting images of remote Court Opera in 1907 was
in The Song of Hiawatha by Henry worlds, using Javanese melodies followed by conducting work
Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). in Pagodes (Pagodas), from his in New York. Mahler died soon
Exoticism also flourished among Estampes (Engravings) of 1903. after returning to Europe from
America, in 1911.
painters. French artist Paul Gauguin
(1848–1903) moved to the French Life through new eyes
Polynesian island of Tahiti in 1891, Before he composed Das Lied von Other key works
to explore new avenues of artistic der Erde, Mahler did not seem to be
expression, aware that the European influenced by the growing European 1888–1894 Symphony No. 2
vogue for the exotic would ensure love of exoticism. His choice of texts (“Resurrection”)
1892–1901 Des Knaben
sales of his work in Paris. for his songs and symphonies had Wunderhorn (The Boy’s
European classical music, too, come mostly from one particular Magic Horn)
was drawn to the imagined sounds area of Austro-German culture: the 1908–1909 Symphony No. 9
of enticing worlds to the south and folk poetry, usually anonymous, ❯❯

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