Tabloid Tuesday: Gustav Mahler

Today I am going to tell you all about Gustav Mahler, the passionate and dramatic composer of the nineteenth century.

One of the many things Mahler is known for is his passion. These characteristics are evident in his music; he is famous for his big crashes, and loud brass sections. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I've met a single brass player who doesn't just adore playing Mahler, because they are encouraged to get as loud as possible.

This passion, however, led to some melodrama in the composer’s life and the loss of some postings he had over the years. On a few occasions, he resigned from positions in a fit of rage – luckily not all of these resignations were accepted. Another time because of “artistic differences” he was fired.

As much as his extreme emotions led to a lot of rage, he was also a passionate lover. He once fell in love with a singer and consequentially wrote his first masterpiece, inspired by his love for her.

Next he fell in love with Carl von Wagner’s wife while he was working alongside Wagner conducting some of his operas. Because of his love for his colleague’s wife he had a fierce creative period about this time.

But he didn’t always fall for unattainable women. In spring 1902, Mahler married young Alma Schindler, who was an intellectual young woman studying composition. However, because Mahler demanded their relationship work around his schedule, and that she give up composing, there were obviously issues in the marriage.

Many people take the option of marriage counseling when there are difficulties at home. Mahler also went this route. But instead of talking to any old councilor, he went to the father of psychoanalysis: Sigmund Freud. Yeah, because apparently that was a thing you could just do. The doctor himself was impressed with Mahler’s deep understanding of psychoanalytic theory, and helped Mahler rediscover his love for Alma.

I want to add an aside here about Freud and psychoanalysis: Though many people think of Freud as an old crackpot who was misogynistic (the misogyny bit is unfortunately true) and kind of insane, he actually had some really important ideas. He initiated the discourse of modern psychology, and without his radical and fundamental ideas, we would not be where we are today.

On a somewhat related note, it’s fascinating to me that Mahler was so tied up with important thinkers of his time. Mahler was a scholar of philosophy and a great reader of Nietzsche’s early work, which is ironic, because Mahler’s pieces themselves are philosophically light-years away from nihilism!

Whew, now that I have that off my chest, let’s carry on, shall we?

Mahler’s passion for music led him to do some pretty extraordinary things. Upon realizing that he would not be able to get a posting in Vienna because of his Jewish heritage, he accepted baptism as a Catholic in 1897, and was appointed Kapellmeister at Vienna after a few months.

However, even though he had converted to Catholicism, there were still intolerant people in Vienna. There was an anti-Mahler campaign launched which came to a head in 1907, at which time Mahler agreed to give his resignation.

He eventually died of a bacterial infection after various other medical difficulties in Vienna on May 12, 1911.

There aren’t too many gossipy things about Mahler that I came across in my searches, however, there are some fun little rumours of which I doubt the veracity, but perhaps speak to the kind of man he was anyway.

I was told that he used to walk around in different cadences, and then use one of those odd walking patterns for the rhythm for whichever piece he was working on.

I also read that he was once composing in the countryside at the foot of the Alps, and demanded absolute silence. So he had all of the surrounding farmers lock up their animals so that he could write in peace.

You can hear music composed by Mahler performed by the Kingston Symphony on February 2^nd, 2014 in Mahler, Ravel & Dvorak.