Masterpieces by Gustav Mahler. Popular classical music.

“Three Angels Were Singing a Tender Song” from the song cycle “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”Gustav Mahler

Konzerte der Gustav Mahler Vereinigung — XXII — “Es sungen drei Engel einen süssen Gesang”

This piece is best known as the fifth movement of the Symphony No.

3, “What the Angels Tell Me.” It is far more frequently heard within the symphony than as a standalone song.

It begins with a children’s chorus evocative of pealing bells, and then the soprano enters, supported by a brisk, sharply contoured accompaniment from the strings and winds.

It is a masterpiece that showcases Mahler’s instrumentation and orchestration, conveying a keen musical intelligence.

“Who Wrote This Song?” from the song cycle “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”Gustav Mahler

Thomas Hampson Mahler Wer hat dies Lied erdacht, Coburg 31 8 2009

Within German Lieder, Mahler’s presence is distinctive.

Schumann and Brahms—and further back, Beethoven and Schubert—composed mostly for voice with piano accompaniment.

Mahler, however, left many versions with orchestral accompaniment.

Richard Strauss, who also belongs to the late Romantic period, shows a similar tendency, which I believe resulted from a pursuit of greater expressive variety and color.

From the song cycle “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”: “Where the Trumpet Sounds So Beautiful”Gustav Mahler

Wo die schonen Trompeten blasen

I can almost see the young Mahler, head down, walking unhurriedly.

It evokes a poetic mood akin to Schubert’s Winterreise.

Mahler is said to have suffered from severe bipolar disorder, and perhaps because his emotional range was exceptionally wide, both his passions and his longings were intense.

Even in this piece, from within the gentle, tranquil musical ideas, one hears a song of powerful yearning.

“Legend of the Rhine” from the song cycle “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”Gustav Mahler

Mahler / Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, 1968: Rheinlegendchen – Des Knaben Wunderhorn

The Rhine is an important river for Europe—especially for Germany—as the “Father River.” From sonorities reminiscent of the bright, gently flowing surface of the Rhine, the soprano begins a beautiful song.

Within this short lied are sung a natural sense of respect and reverence, and the happiness of people living within that nature.

Mahler is often thought to have been pessimistic, yet he possessed such a streak of optimism as well.

“The Dead Drummer” from the song cycle “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”Gustav Mahler

Mahler – Revelge – Jose Van Dam

The weighty yet driving rhythm, evoking a military band’s march, creates a well-balanced sense of tension.

The singer, José van Dam, is a Belgian baritone active in operatic stage works and Lieder.

In this performance as well, he offers a beautiful, commanding voice befitting a master of Lieder, and his ensemble with the orchestra is flawless.

Night Watchman’s Song from ‘Des Knaben Wunderhorn’ (Song Collection)Gustav Mahler

Mahler, Des Knaben Wunderhorn – 1. Der Schildwache Nachtlied.wmv

Originally composed with piano accompaniment, this song cycle had a significant influence on the composer’s early symphonies.

Since his family home was near a military encampment, he frequently wrote musical ideas that evoke bugle calls and soldiers’ marches.

You can hear many such elements in this piece as well.

The conductor Bernstein was a specialist in Mahler and left many outstanding recordings.

“Saint Anthony of Padua Preaching to the Fish” from the song cycle “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”Gustav Mahler

Ian Bostridge – G.Mahler · “Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt”

Ian Bostridge is one of the tenor singers active around the world.

He has won many awards for his recordings and maintains strong popularity, including twelve Grammy nominations.

This piece is also famous for being used in the third movement of the Symphony No.

2, and its lyrics are taken from a collection of German folk poetry compiled by Ludwig Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano.