How to Study, Perform, and Enjoy Das Klagende Lied in Full Score book pdf
Das Klagende Lied in Full Score book pdf
Das Klagende Lied (Song of Lamentation) is a cantata by Gustav Mahler, composed between 1878 and 1880 and greatly revised over the next two decades. It is based on a fairy-tale that Mahler wrote himself, inspired by German folk tales and legends. The cantata tells a tragic story of two brothers, one who kills the other for a magic flower that can win him the love of a queen, and how his crime is exposed by a minstrel who makes a flute from the dead brother's bone. The cantata explores themes such as love, jealousy, murder, guilt, justice, and redemption.
Das Klagende Lied in Full Score book pdf
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Das Klagende Lied is one of Mahler's earliest works, and also one of his most ambitious and complex. It requires a large orchestra, four vocal soloists, a mixed choir, an off-stage orchestra, and two boy singers. It consists of three parts: Waldmärchen (Forest Legend), Der Spielmann (The Minstrel), and Hochzeitsstück (Wedding Piece). Each part has its own musical style and character, reflecting the different stages of the story. Studying Das Klagende Lied in full score can help readers appreciate Mahler's mastery of orchestration, harmony, melody, form, and expression.
Part 1: Waldmärchen (Forest Legend)
The first part of Das Klagende Lied introduces the main characters and sets up the conflict. It begins with a narrator describing how a magic flower grows in a forest once every hundred years, and how whoever finds it can marry the queen. Two brothers, one fair and gentle, the other dark and fierce, go to search for the flower. The fair brother finds it first, but he is killed by his jealous brother who takes the flower for himself. The dark brother then goes to the castle to claim his prize, while the fair brother's body lies in the forest.
Mahler uses various musical elements to create contrast and tension in this part. He assigns different instruments and motifs to represent each character: for example, he uses horns and woodwinds for the fair brother, trumpets and trombones for the dark brother, and harps and celesta for the magic flower. He also uses different keys and modes to convey the mood and atmosphere: for example, he uses major keys and diatonic scales for the bright and cheerful scenes, and minor keys and chromatic scales for the dark and sinister scenes. He also uses different forms and structures to organize the musical material: for example, he uses a rondo form for the opening narration, a sonata form for the brothers' quest, and a variation form for the murder scene.
Some of the challenges and highlights of performing this part include the coordination of the large orchestral forces, the balance of the vocal and instrumental parts, the expression of the dramatic and emotional nuances, and the execution of the technical and musical difficulties. Some of the most memorable moments of this part include the enchanting harp glissandos that accompany the magic flower, the powerful brass fanfares that announce the dark brother's arrival at the castle, and the haunting woodwind solos that lament the fair brother's death.
Part 2: Der Spielmann (The Minstrel)
The second part of Das Klagende Lied shifts the focus to a new character, a wandering minstrel who comes across the fair brother's body in the forest. He decides to make a flute from his bone, hoping to play beautiful music with it. However, as soon as he blows into it, the flute starts to sing with a human voice, telling the story of how he was killed by his brother. The minstrel is shocked and horrified by what he hears, and he decides to go to the castle to expose the truth.
Mahler uses various musical elements to create contrast and suspense in this part. He assigns different instruments and motifs to represent each character: for example, he uses flutes and clarinets for the minstrel, oboes and bassoons for his flute, and strings and percussion for his accompaniment. He also uses different keys and modes to convey the mood and atmosphere: for example, he uses major keys and pentatonic scales for the minstrel's cheerful songs, minor keys and modal scales for his flute's mournful laments, and atonal chords and dissonant intervals for his flute's accusations. He also uses different forms and structures to organize the musical material: for example, he uses a strophic form for the minstrel's songs, a rhapsodic form for his flute's laments, and a fugue form for his flute's accusations.
Some of the challenges and highlights of performing this part include the coordination of the soloist and choir parts, the balance of the on-stage and off-stage orchestras, the expression of the dramatic and emotional nuances, and the execution of the technical and musical difficulties. Some of the most memorable moments of this part include the lyrical melodies that characterize the minstrel's songs, the eerie harmonics that create the sound of his flute's voice, and the contrapuntal complexity that builds up the tension of his flute's accusations.
Part 3: Hochzeitsstück (Wedding Piece)
The third part of Das Klagende Lied brings the story to its climax and resolution. It begins with a narrator describing how the dark brother is about to marry the queen in a lavish ceremony. The minstrel arrives at the castle gate with his flute, but he is denied entry by the guards. He manages to sneak in through a window, and he confronts the dark brother in front of the queen and the guests. He plays his flute, and it sings with a human voice, telling the story of how he was killed by his brother. The dark brother is terrified and confesses his crime, while the queen is disgusted and rejects him. The minstrel then breaks his flute in half, and it turns into a lily, which he places on the queen's lap. The narrator then concludes the story by saying that the fair brother's soul was freed from his bone, and that he flew away to heaven as a bird.
Mahler uses various musical elements to create contrast and resolution in this part. He assigns different instruments and motifs to represent each character: for example, he uses violins and violas for the queen, cellos and basses for the dark brother, and horns and trumpets for the guards. He also uses different keys and modes to convey the mood and atmosphere: for example, he uses major keys and triadic chords for the wedding celebration, minor keys and diminished chords for the dark brother's fear, and modal keys and augmented chords for the fair brother's liberation.
to organize the musical material: for example, he uses a rondo form for the wedding celebration, a sonata form for the minstrel's confrontation, and a coda form for the fair brother's liberation.
Some of the challenges and highlights of performing this part include the coordination of the soloist and choir parts, the balance of the on-stage and off-stage orchestras, the expression of the dramatic and emotional nuances, and the execution of the technical and musical difficulties. Some of the most memorable moments of this part include the festive melodies and rhythms that characterize the wedding celebration, the dramatic dialogues and recitatives that create the minstrel's confrontation, and the ethereal harmonies and timbres that depict the fair brother's liberation.
Conclusion
Das Klagende Lied is a remarkable work that showcases Mahler's genius and originality. It is a musical fairy-tale that tells a gripping story of love, betrayal, justice, and redemption. It is also a personal and artistic statement that reflects Mahler's influences and experiences. By studying Das Klagende Lied in full score, readers can gain a deeper understanding of Mahler's musical language, style, and expression.
Das Klagende Lied in full score book pdf is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to study, perform, or enjoy this work. It provides a clear and accurate representation of Mahler's musical intentions, as well as annotations and comments that explain his revisions and choices. It also includes an introduction and a critical commentary that provide historical and analytical insights into the work. Readers can access Das Klagende Lied in full score book pdf online or download it for free from various websites.
FAQs
When and where was Das Klagende Lied first performed?
Das Klagende Lied was first performed on 17 February 1901 in Vienna, with Mahler himself conducting. However, this performance only included the second and third parts of the work, as Mahler had decided to omit the first part. The first performance of the complete work took place on 7 February 1934 in Amsterdam, with Willem Mengelberg conducting.
How many versions and revisions did Mahler make of Das Klagende Lied?
Mahler made several versions and revisions of Das Klagende Lied over the course of his life. The original version was composed between 1878 and 1880, and it consisted of three parts: Waldmärchen (Forest Legend), Der Spielmann (The Minstrel), and Hochzeitsstück (Wedding Piece). The first revision took place in 1893, when Mahler reduced and re-arranged the orchestral and vocal forces, and also decided to omit the first part. The second revision took place in 1898, when Mahler further revised the orchestration and restored the off-stage brass. The final revision took place in 1899, when Mahler made minor changes to the vocal parts.
What are some of the influences and sources of Das Klagende Lied?
Das Klagende Lied was influenced by various sources and genres, such as German folk tales and legends, medieval poetry and music, Romantic literature and music, Wagnerian opera, symphonic poem, cantata, oratorio, etc. The main source of Das Klagende Lied was a fairy-tale that Mahler wrote himself, possibly based on "Das klagende Lied" by Ludwig Bechstein and/or "Der singende Knochen" by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Mahler also drew inspiration from other works by Bechstein, Grimm, Goethe, Schiller, Heine, Eichendorff, Uhland, Brentano, Tieck, Hoffmann, Novalis, etc.
How long does it take to perform Das Klagende Lied in full?
The duration of Das Klagende Lied depends on the version and the interpretation of the performers. The original version takes about 70 minutes to perform in full, while the revised version takes about 60 minutes. The first part takes about 30 minutes, the second part takes about 20 minutes, and the third part takes about 10 minutes.
What are some of the best recordings and editions of Das Klagende Lied?
There are many recordings and editions of Das Klagende Lied available, each with its own merits and drawbacks. Some of the most acclaimed recordings include those by Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Riccardo Chailly, Bernard Haitink, Jascha Horenstein, Rafael Kubelik, James Levine, Claudio Abbado, etc. Some of the most reliable editions include those by Universal Edition, Dover Publications, Eulenburg, etc.
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