Music 271: 4/2/07 II: The post-Romantic Period and the turn towards the 20th century: the generation of 1860: • Hard to differentiate the Nationalistic composition and composer • Beginnings of another break: divide between composers born before and after 1860: • Hugo Wolf, Gustav Mahler, Eduard MacDowell, Claude Debussy, Horatio Parker, Richard Strauss, Jean Sibelius, Amy Cheney Beach, Scott Joplin: all born in the decade of 1860 • Mahler, Debussy, and Joplin were all prophetic • Strauss: Symphonic poems, Opera, Art songs • Mahler - Schoenberg - Weber (evolution) • Ragtime was first form of New Orleans Jazz III: Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): A: Biographical Sketch 1. Polka mit einem Trauermarsch als Einleitung (Polka with a funeral march as introduction): Composed at age 5: Composed after the subsequent deaths of 2 of Mahler’s brothers • Born in Czech Republic (Bohemia) • Dysfunctional family • Direct and indirect references to death (Mahler 1 as an example) • 1880’s found Mahler in Vienna Conservatory • Mentors were 4 individuals: Beethoven (Romantic), Schopenhauer - philosopher, R. Wagner, Nietzsche - argued that 2 aspects of human existence: rational and emotional • Melodies proceed from words, as do tonal centers and other elements in the music (Mahler 2: C minor-Eb Major: Death - Resurrection) • Culmination of philosophical beliefs and musical practices that cover the entire 19th century Germanic domain B: His place in music history: C: Place of song in Mahler’s music: • 9 symphonies - 4 include vocal soloists (2,3,4,8) • Many art songs for voice and piano, which were orchestrated later • Kindertotenlieder: Songs on the Deaths of Children (1901-1904): Full Orchestra setting but used like a chamber group