The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD) (Paperback)

by David Hurwitz (Author) "This work, composed between 1884 and 1888, ranks along with the Symphonie fantastique of Berlioz as one of the most remarkable first symphonies by any..." (more)
Key Phrases: chattering accompaniment, bell motive, aspiration theme, Second Symphony, Fifth Symphony, Third Symphony (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Anyone fascinated but daunted by Mahler's monumental, complex orchestral works will find this book a welcome guide. Focusing on the nine completed symphonies and The Song of the Earth, David Hurwitz addresses his readers directly in an informal, conversational tone. Aided by a CD of four selected movements, he tells them what to listen for, what to pay special attention to, and, pointing out some recurring characteristics, what to remember for future reference. He explains Mahler's concept of form and structure, from the smallest motives to the over-life-size finished edifice. He discusses Mahler's manifold use of his songs, his love for quoting from himself and for recalling and anticipating thematic material--always in a new guise--and his penchant for aborted climaxes and deceptive endings: part of his reluctance (or inability) to conclude a composition. Despite his originality, Mahler stood on the shoulders of other giants, notably Wagner and Verdi, whose works he conducted at the Vienna Opera. Hurwitz devotes much attention--and an entire appendix--to Mahler's unsurpassed mastery of orchestration, his skill in exploiting every instrument's resources, even using them for thematic purposes.

Hurwitz admits that describing music in words has limitations; he falls back instead on describing Mahler's complex mixture of elements from the most sublime to the raw (for example, we find the music characterized as pretty," "cute," "sleazy," "sexy," "vulgar," "flatulent," or "squealing" like a barmaid "after being pinched on the behind" and the like). On the other hand, he rejects the conventional assumption that there is a link between a composer's work and life experiences, isolating the music from the personality. This might be considered a drawback insofar as it neglects a crucial dimension (consider, for example, our knowledge that Mahler tried to outwit fate by interpolating The Song of the Earth between his Eighth and Ninth Symphonies and how this might enhance our understanding of those two dark, valedictory final works). Yet even such cavils cannot diminish the originality and thoughtfulness behind this illuminating book. --Edith Eisler

Review
" . . . very useful." -- La Scena Musicale, Vol. 10, No. 7

". . . Hurwitz manages to explain [Mahler's] creative process in plain language . . ." -- American Reference Books Annual, 36th vol.

". . .this is the ideal book for a would-be Mahlerite . . . " -- musicweb-international.com

"Hurwitz is precise, avuncular, and enthusiastic . . . Recommended." -- Choice, July/August 2005

"The concise discussion of each movement, in its parts and themes is factual, simple . . ." -- VocalImages.com

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Amadeus Press (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574670999
• ISBN-13: 978-1574670998
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #158,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #4 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Classical > Composers > Mahler, Gustav
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• This item is part of The Unlocking the Masters Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars introduction to Mahler's major symphonic works, February 28, 2005

By	Henry Berry "Henry Berry" (Southport, CT) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Hurwitz breaks down Mahler's nine symphonies plus his song cycle "The Song of the Earth" into their parts as these contribute to the whole; and the parts too are broken down for their development, tone, and instruments. Analyses and commentary mingle with frequent metaphoric, near-poetic, evocations of musical passages. In the Fifth Movement of Symphony No. 5, "Horn and woodwinds unfold a series of perky little tunes...." In the Second Movement, "As this climax dies away trailing clouds of strings and horns, the woodwinds slither back in with sinister whirring scales." Hurwitz also gives attention to the spiritual ideas and the emotions embodied in Mahler's music. The author of "Beethoven or Bust: A Practical Guide to Learning About and Listening to Great Music," Hurwitz writes about music in a style that is suitable for readers of all ages from young adults and up.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Listener's Guide, October 22, 2006

By	Dean Campbell (El Paso, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

David Hurwitz has written a marvelous guide for the classical music listener who wants to get more out of Mahler's symphonies but: a) lacks the ability to follow the music him/herself, or make sense of it; and b) finds that CD and program notes do not provide sufficiently detailed description, or are too technical to be understandable. The author provides lengthy but non-technical descriptions of the music as it progresses, keeping the listener on track and ready for what comes next. Major melodies or tunes are identified by ad hoc names (the "kletzmer," the "Alma," etc.). Major rhythms are identified for the reader-listener in the most basic terms (i.e. "dum dum dadum dum"), but it works! Hurwitz eschews biographical background in favor of discussion of the form and content of the music itself. Even if the author fails to convert you to a Mahlerian (and he certainly seems to be one himself), his book will deepen your appreciation for this formerly "much abused" composer.

My complaints are few. In his enthusiasm the author has a tendency to confuse the words "literal" and "figurative" such that, at one point in the book he describes the orchestra as "literally falling over a cliff" or words to that effect; which, for the sake of the musicians' health and casualty insurance premiums I hope did not happen. I wish that discussions of form and interpretations of meaning had been reserved for the front of each chapter, directly following the introduction, so the chronological description of the music had not been interrupted. Strangely, the author, who is not bashful about expressing his opinions, seems surprisingly hesitant to divulge his extra-musical interpretations of the music. Finally, Hurwitz is a most uncritical critic, defending Mahler from every criticism, even those that, to my ears, are justifiable.

In addition to the book the purchaser receives a CD with one-movement excerpts from four Mahler symphonies (#'s 1, 2, 5 and 7). The guides to these four movements contain exact time references to these CD performances for greater ease in following along.

Buyer beware: you'll find you'll want to acquire CD's of Mahler symphonies you don't presently own (I bought #'s 6 and 7), or purchase other versions if yours don't reveal all the twitters, birdcalls, or cowbells itemized in the book.

Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars helpful book, January 28, 2009

By	JJA Kiefte "Joost Kiefte" (Tegelen, Nederland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I hugely enjoy David Hurwitz' cd reviews on Classics Today, which are witty, incisive and knowledgeable, with a refreshing absence of undue reverence for the big names in the music industry (record labels and conductors alike) and a total lack of the conspicuous chauvinism that German reviewers display. On the strength of those reviews I have bought many a cd and the choices I made that way have seldom been disappointing.
But on this book: I partly agree with reviewer A. Johnston when he remarks that "Mahler's expressive and easthetic motivations" are not dealt with. What would also have been helpful are extracts from the symphonies' scores to illustrate certain passages (as in Truscott's book on Franz Schmidt's symphonies), so that you can not only hear (on the accompanying cd) but also see the complexity of Mahler's music.
Since in Mahler's music so many things go on, the book is cetainly valuable to the listener since it helps him / her(?) to understand what is happening and how this connects to what went on before and what to expect next. I still find myslef consulting the book every time I listen to a Mahler symphony and I find that it adds to my listening pleasure, so much of what Hurwitz set out to do is achieved.