Gustave Mahler

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler

-born July 7, 1860, Kalischt,
Bohemia(then Austria, now
the Czech Republic)

-died May 18, 1911, Vienna,
Austria

A composer of the Romantic Era

-As a child, Gustav Mahler took piano lessons and showed a great interest
in music.

- His parents took him to the Vienna Conservatory of music, where he was
accepted for study at age fifteen.

-He also studied history and philosophy at the University of Vienna.

-While at the conservatory from 1875 through 1878, Gustav wrote his first
musical compositions.

-He began work on his first symphony in 1880.

Multiple Choice

What other subjects did Mahler study in Vienna?

• Math and Science

• Literature and Math

• Medicine and Biology

• Philiposphy and History

Multiple Choice

What age was Mahler accepted into the conservatory of music?

• 18

• 15

• 20

• 9

Multiple Choice

What instrument did Gustav Mahler first learn to play?

• violin

• trumpet

• piano

• flute

Career as a Conductor

-Throughout the early 1880s, he took a variety of jobs as orchestra
conductor in towns and small cities in Austria, Slovenia, Bohemia, and
Germany.

-In 1885 Mahler was named assistant conductor of the Prague
(Czechoslovakia) Opera, and in 1886 became assistant conductor of the
Leipzig (Germany) Opera.

-He later held the position of music director of the Budapest Royal Opera
(1888) and conductor of the Hamburg Opera (1891).

Career cont.

-Mahler had established himself as one of the premier orchestral and
opera conductors in central Europe.

-He did most of his composing in the summers, when his orchestras and
operas were not performing. In 1897, Mahler became music director of
the Vienna State Opera, a very important position.

- A year later he also took on the position of conductor of the Vienna
Philharmonic. Undoubtedly, Mahler was now the most important musical
figure in Austria.

Multiple Choice

What season did Mahler complete and work on most of his symphonies?

• Winter

• Spring

• Autumn

• Summer

Mahler’s Summers

-Mahler purchased a summer home near a lake in the Austrian
countryside. He used this home as a retreat where he worked on his
music.

-wrote four symphonies here between 1901 and 1907. Mahler was now
composing orchestral music almost exclusively, although some of his
symphonies called for singers in addition to a full orchestra.

-Settled into a productive professional life as a composer and conductor.
However, after several years with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna
State Opera, disagreements with both organizations caused him to resign

Multiple Choice

How many symphonies did Mahler write between 1901-1907?

• 10

• 6

• 4

• 9

Mahler in the USA

-Mahler moved to the United States in 1907 and was named conductor of
the Metropolitan Opera.

-In 1909 (age forty-nine), he added the position of conductor of the New
York Philharmonic. Mahler held these positions until 1911, although he
continued to spend his summers in Europe.

-Once again, disagreements and conflicts with his employers caused him
to resign.

-In 1911 he returned to Vienna, where he died of a heart attack in May.

Mahler as a person

-As a conductor, Gustav Mahler was always well received by audiences and
music critics. The same cannot be said of his music.

-During his lifetime, Mahler’s symphonies were often considered to be too
long, too loud, and too complex.

-His music fell into disfavor after his death, but were revived later in the
twentieth century.

-Although some of his symphonies were written in the early twentieth
century, Mahler is considered the last great composer of the Romantic
era.

Multiple Choice

Why were Mahler's Symphonies not played as often during his lifetime?

• too long, too loud, too complex

• too short, too soft, too east

• it was too many operas

• it was not as important as operas

Mahler’s Music

-His ten symphonies, especially
Symphonies

-No. 1, 2, and 5.

-Symphonies No. 5 through 10 are
very difficult, and are performed
less frequently than Symphonies
No. 1 through 4.

Multiple Choice

How many Symphonies total did Mahler compose?

• 15

• 10

• 9

• 5