Is Mahler worth the bother?

A few thoughts on how a sceptic might approach a composer who can be musical Marmite.

This blog links to a Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BcZaw38kG1H3Vf1l6MbfZ?si=c3e0c81df0fc4b8c

Isn’t Mahler… depressing? Long and boring? Chaotic? Very loud? These are some common misconceptions held by those who either don’t like or don’t know the music of Mahler. In fairness, many Mahler symphonies are rather long and they can be quite loud but...can't everybody? More on that later.

I don’t suppose there is a composer whose music is truly universally loved but Mahler (together with one of my other favourite composers – Ralph Vaughan Williams, and more about him in another blog) is one of the most misrepresented and probably one of the most divisive. Those who love his music find him uplifting, thrilling, moving, wonderous. Those who don’t, well, I’ve already described their doubts.

Is he worth investigating? The recent biopic ‘’Maestro’’, about Leonard Bernstein, ends with him conducting the final 6 minutes of Mahler’s Second Symphony (the ‘Resurrection’). I can imagine some people, thrilled by the scene, rushing off to listen to the whole symphony and (probably understandably) losing interest in the preceding 78 or so minutes. They might then tell their friends, the next day, that they ‘‘heard that piece from Maestro and it was rubbish!’’ It really isn’t. Neither is it the best introduction to Mahler’s music.

So what is the truth about Mahler? More than any other composer I can think of, Mahler’s music reflects aspects of his life, both the good and the bad (and Mahler had his fair share of bad times). Consequently, his music is full of wildly contrasting emotions. Perhaps this accounts for the idea that his music is chaotic – sometimes the music can just erupt in a frustrated ‘’blaargh!’’. (A bit like people). It can be intensely sad and sometimes tragic. On the other hand, Mahler can provide even the most atheistic heart with an intensely joyful, spiritual experience. And if you want to jump up and cheer at the end of a piece, Mahler’s your man.

Emotion is only part of the story, though. Mahler was a lover of nature and you’ll hear echoes of that. He was Jewish, and the influence of his musical culture often features. Mahler grew up near army barracks. Consequently, fanfares and marches are common. Death, unfortunately, shadowed much of his life, with many of his siblings and his own children dying at a young age. Small wonder if there is an inherent sadness to his music, or that he should compose ‘’Kindertotenlieder’’ – Songs on the death of children. Not surprisingly, the diagnosis of a serious condition also influenced his later works.

If all of the above has peaked your interest, you may be wondering where to start, especially given the length of the symphonies (of which, the shortest still clock in at around 50 minutes). Well, firstly, his output is almost entirely songs and symphonies. No operas and not much instrumental or chamber music to speak of. If you’re frightened by the thought of an hour-long symphony, you can give the songs a try. The ‘Kindertotenlieder’ may feel a bit of an ordeal as a musical ice-breaker (although some of us are drawn to musical darkness) so the ‘Ruckert Lieder’ might be a safer choice (Friedrich Ruckert was the poet whose texts Mahler set to music).

Having said that, it’s hard to get to know Mahler without meeting his symphonies. But rather than jumping in at the deep end with an hour-long symphony, it’s worth heeding the wisdom of my old friend Heather: ‘’How do you eat an elephant?’’ she would ask, ‘’You cut it into small chunks’’. In other words, try individual movements. I’ve compiled a playlist to help:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BcZaw38kG1H3Vf1l6MbfZ?si=c3e0c81df0fc4b8c

The slow movement of the 5th Symphony may be familiar to those who have seen the film Death in Venice (or who listen to ClassicFM). A short movement for strings and harp with an air of longing and bursts of passion. The second movement of the 1st Symphony is an exuberant affair with the occasional whiff of a German drinking song. The contrasting sections might evoke an afternoon walk along the river. The third movement of the same symphony is a funeral march based on the folk song ‘Bruder Martin’ (in the UK we sing the words Frere Jacques). This is interrupted by passages of music echoing Mahler’s Jewish upbringing. If you enjoy these two movements, you're halfway to listening to the whole symphony!

There follows two items with voices - the joyful 5th movement of Mahler's longest symphony (don't worry - this movement is short!) and the song "Ging heut morgen ubers Feld" (I walked across the fields this morning) which becomes a main theme in his First Symphony. The longest piece in the playlist is the slow movement from Mahler's most lovable symphony - the 4th. This is a serene piece with a blazing vision of heaven just before the end. Finally, the closing 12 minutes of his second symphony - the Resurrection - the bit used in the film about Bernstein. Here, the might of the full orchestra, choir and two soloists exhort the departed soul to 'rise again If this doesn't stir your soul, Mahler definitely isn't for you!