What would be your (perhaps sentimental) choice to enjoy on Mahler's birthday?

[Constantin]

Of course, it's nearly impossible to choose among Mahler's works, but today, to celebrate his birthday, what are some suggested choices here at the GMB?

[Penny]

Sorry to be a bit late with this response, and while it’s really difficult to choose, one piece seems to leap out at me, “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen”, which Mahler himself described to Natalie as “my very self”.  (It hasn’t escaped my notice that you’ve put a quote from this at the bottom of your posting!)

[barry guerrero]

I thought about that. I had a busy day, so I didn't do any listening. But I did do some quiet reading from the Fischer biography at bed time. I was out like a light within twenty minutes. This seemed to be a really low key birthday for Mahler.

[Sturmisch Bewegt]

As I was listening to Weber der Freischütz I got the idea to venture into "die drei Pintos" that I did not know at all. Lovely music.

In the middle of the "entracte", I noticed a short clarinet - bassoon motive  which sounded familiary to my ears. After a while I reminded. There is the same motive at the very end of the second Nachtmusik of M7.
 

[Constantin]

Die Drei Pintos is a piece few of us have heard, even though of course it was Mahler who accepted the commission from the Weber family to complete Carl Maria's work.

I'll look for it, and listen for it in M7.

Thanks!

 

[barry guerrero]

I know that I'm charlatan for saying this (and as so astutely pointed out by Da Capo, who's since been banished for his total lack of tact), but I just can't 'get into' "Die Drei Pintos". Yes, it's all very light fluff, and I'm sure Mahler did an outstanding job of piecing it together (made a ton of money from it too), but I just can't sit through it. I've tried.

[Sturmisch Bewegt]

 Perhaps the best passages of "Die drei Pintos" are those I found on You Tube. I found them interesting enough to try the entire piece.

Mahler's signature is perceptible in the "entracte" orchestration .

[barry guerrero]

Thanks. I'll try the Youtube excerpts.