Gustav Mahler Musical Style and Contributions, Genres and Titles

What are his Romantic style elements

heightened emotionalism, sehnsucht (longing), Weltschmerz (world-weariness)

Musical characteristics

lush, chromatic musical language, broad lyricism

what forms did he use

traditional ones, such as the sonata, theme and variations, and rondo

what kind of use of harmony and tonality did he use

a progressive use, with sudden modulations; began in one key and ends in another

Orchestration

Wrote orchestral passages for small groups of players, creating an intimate, chamber-music effect, “master of orchestration”

what form did he develop

the orchestral song cycle

Influence for symphonic writing

Beethoven. Included chorus and soloists, and employed cyclic structure

Choice of subject matter

Often nostalgic, includes childhood songs, soldier’s marches, folk dances (especially Austrian Ländler), and drinking songs

Where did he get his favourite texts from?

a collection of folk poems and songs entitled Des Knaben Wunderhorn(The Youth’s Magic Horn) 

What themes does many works show preoccupation with? Example?

issues of life and death and humankind’s purpose on earth; for example, Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”) 

What era does he draw influence from and what element of it?

Romantic-era spirit of exoticism (used pentatonic scales and Chinese texts in his last symphony)  

what next step in a tradition does he represent

German Lieder tradition established by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Strauss

What did he develop?

The orchestral song cycle (a group of songs for solo voice and orchestra)

What did he expand? Example?

 performing forces on a grand scale; for example, Symphony No. 8 (“Symphony of a Thousand”) 

Symphony examples?

9 ( and unfinished 10th), including No.2 (Resurrection), and No.8 (Symphony of a Thousand)

orchestral with voice examples?

including Das Lied von der Erde, Des Knaben, Wunderhorn, Kindertotnlieder, and Lieder eines, fahrenden Gesellen

Vocal examples?

Lieder, and a cantata titled Das Klagende Lied