Anyone seen this book?

[Jot N. Tittle]

Gustav Mahler: New Insights into His Life, Times and Work (Guildhall Research Studies), edited by Alfred Mathis-Rosenzweig, translated by Jeremy Barham, is the book. I see it is listed on Amazon.com, pricey ($49.95) and takes four to six weeks for delivery. It was published April 7, 2007.

Anyone here have insights into the book?

     . & '

[Ivor]

So much to read;so little time;especially what with the net and everything 

I used to have a bookstall,secondhand,and when people quavered at the price (sometimes all of £1 ! !), I'd sometimes ask,as      I will in this case,well,what was the last thing you spent $49.95 on?

[Jot N. Tittle]

You are right, Ivor, to keep these things in perspective. I think the last thing I spent $49 on was a tank of gas--uh, petrol.

Nevertheless, as a booklover and collector with sixty years' experience, and allowing for all those things that contribute to rising costs and prices, I still think fifty bucks is pricey for a book that is probably almost all print (that is, few or no illustrations). Just living in the past, I suppose. Oh, I know: this particular book is from a small publishing House; and the market is, in publishing terms, quite small, even including the university and college libraries.

So I'll lay out the $49, you may be sure.

Now, when HLG's Volume IV comes out, it will likely be priced over $100, as was Volume III. (Is my memory correct here?)

As for finding a Mahler book in the used-book market, well, the pickings are thin, in my experience.

     . & '

[Ivor]

Exactly,Jot,perspective,and in no time,you'll be buyong another tank,and the previous one will be forgot,while you'll have the book till,e.g.,the end of your days. That's what I call value for money ! ! ! !

I've just picked up,via the net, a book called The Haunting Melody by Theodore Reik,'cos ir has been in Mahler bibliographies. Cost £8.50 in real money.

[Jot N. Tittle]

Exactly,Jot,perspective,and in no time,you'll be buying another tank,and the previous one will be forgot,while you'll have the book till,e.g.,the end of your days. That's what I call value for money ! ! ! !

I've just picked up,via the net, a book called The Haunting Melody by Theodore Reik,'cos it has been in Mahler bibliographies. Cost £8.50 in real money.

"You'll have the book"! Exactly my approach.

Now, cast an eye over the Reik book and tell us about it. Does Mahler figure anywhere other than in the chapter "Freud and Mahler"? (I don't have the book, just saw the chapter heading in a listing on ABE.)

     . & '

[Ivor]

I tend to take my time over reading books - I have a lot of music obtained and not yet played (mostly s-h).

However the prod is fine.

The Haunting Melody doesn't have an index - great ! - not. It looks,from a quick flick thru,that the last 120 pp (6 chapters) are all centred around Mahler. Reik is particularly concerned with psychological matters. the book is essentially about the psychology behind the occurrence of a tune or piece of music popping into one's head. The Mahler chapters are especially to do with M2,LE (the chapter after 'Freud and Mahler', is called 'The Song of the Earth'),and why Reik had a writer's block preventing him writing a psychological study of Mahler.

I'll back to you on further detail.


   Ivor