Mahler in Context

Explores the institutions, artists, thinkers, cultural movements, socio-political conditions, and personal relationships that shaped Mahler's creative output.

Charles Youmans (Edited by)

9781108423779, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 November 2020

344 pages, 9 b/w illus. 7 music examples
23.5 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.69 kg

'… a gold mine for those interested in all aspects of Central European culture from around 1900. Highly recommended.' M. Dineen, Choice

Mahler in Context explores the institutions, artists, thinkers, cultural movements, socio-political conditions, and personal relationships that shaped Mahler's creative output. Focusing on the contexts surrounding the artist, the collection provides a sense of the complex crosscurrents against which Mahler was reacting as conductor, composer, and human being. Topics explored include his youth and training, performing career, creative activity, spiritual and philosophical influences, and his reception after his death. Together, this collection of specially commissioned essays offers a wide-ranging investigation of the ecology surrounding Mahler as a composer and a fuller appreciation of the topics that occupied his mind as he conceived his works. Readers will benefit from engagement with lesser known dimensions of Mahler's life. Through this broader contextual approach, this book will serve as a valuable and unique resource for students, scholars, and a general readership.

Preface and acknowledgements: List of abbreviations: Part I. Formation: 1. Family life Stephen McClatchie
2. A childhood in bohemia: early teachers and friends Reinhold Kubik
3. Music in Iglau, 1860–75 Timothy Freeze
4. Student culture in 1870s Vienna Caroline A. Kita
5. Viennese musical associates, 1875-1883 Charles Youmans
6. Becoming a conductor: the early years in Mahler's career Peter Revers
7. Between 'Thrice Homeless' and 'To the Germans in Austria': political conditions in Mahler's Europe Margaret Notley
Part II. Performance: 8. Operatic and orchestral repertoire Anna Stoll Knecht
9. Collaborators Anna Harwell Celenza
10. A perfect storm: Mahler's New York Joseph Horowitz
11. Celebrity Eva Giloi
Part III. Creation: 12. The composer 'goes to press': Mahler's dealings with engravers and publishers in Vienna around 1900 Renate Stark-Voit
13. Mahler and program music Constantin Floros
14. Intertextuality in Mahler Vera Micznik
15. The symphony, 1870-1911 David Larkin
16. Mahler and the visual arts of his time Martina Pippal
17. Mahler and modernism Marilyn L. McCoy
18. Reception in Vienna Kevin C. Karnes
19. Mahler's press from London to Los Angeles Karen Painter
Part IV. Mind, Body, Spirit: 20. Organized religion Stephen McClatchie
21. German idealism Morten Solvik
22. Nietzsche Lesley Chamberlain
23. Fechner Michael Heidelberger
24. Literary enthusiasms Jeremy Barham
25. Romantic relationships Charles Youmans
26. Mahler and death Carl Niekerk
Part V. Influence: 27. Posthumous reputation, 1911 to World War II Stephen Downes
28. Mahler and the second Viennese school Wolfgang Rathert
29. The Mahler revival James L. Zychowicz
30. Broader influence Thomas Peattie
31. Adorno Roger Allen
32. Influences in literature Matthew Werley
33. Mahler on disc Richard Wattenbarger
34. Film and recent popular culture Peter Franklin.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB], Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH], 20th century & contemporary classical music [AVGC6], Romantic music [c 1830 to c 1900 AVGC5]