Customer Reviews

Mahler's Arrangements of Schubert's 'Death and the Maiden' & Beethoven's String Quartet 'Serioso'

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Transcriptions of chamber works to orchestral works have been interesting asides for composers for a long time - whether the transcription are alterations of a composer's own songs or chamber works to full orchestral size or those of other composers for which the transcriber had a particular affinity. Stokowski's transcriptions of Bach's works are probably the most familiar to audiences. The two transcriptions on this recording are the creations Gustav Mahler and his election to transcribe the quartets of Beethoven and Schubert is not surprising: Mahler 'transcribed' many of his own songs into movements or portions of movements for his own symphonies.

Listening to Mahler's transcriptions of these two well known quartets - Franz Schubert's String Quartet in D Minor 'Death and the Maiden' and Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet in F Minor 'Serioso' - provides insight into both the orginal compositions and the orchestration concepts of Gustav Mahler. The themes of these two works would naturally appeal to Mahler's somber nature. Mahler naturally extends the tonal sound of each of these transcriptions by using the full string orchestra and in both works it is readily apparent that his compositional techniques within string sections are ever present. The mood of the quartets is unchanged: each quartet is more than amplified by Mahler's writing as he fills the lines with his own depth of contrasting the ranges of the strings. Mahler simply wished to amplify the effect of these works. For purists these transcriptions will likely not be satisfactory, perhaps even perceived as 'meddling' or clouding the perfect quartets. But for Mahlerites these transcriptions will add another level of respect for the genius that was Gustav Mahler.

The performances are by Marco Boni conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and the sound is splendid. Grady Harp, November 11