Okay, jef – here it is: from Ein Glück ohne Ruh'. Die Briefe Gustav Mahlers an 
Alma. “A Happiness Without Peace: the Letters from Gustav Mahler to Alma” 
(1995)   Edited with commentary by Henry-Louis de La Grange and Günther Weiß, 
Berlin

Writing of the 5th symphony, Mahler arrived in Cologne on October 13 1904, for 
his first rehearsal the next day: 

  "Everything went acceptably. The Scherzo is a terrible movement! It will have 
a long life of ordeal! Conductors for 50 years will take it too quickly and 
make a mess of it, the audiences - - o heaven! What should they make of this 
chaos, where a new world is born in one moment only to be destroyed in the next 
- - - of these primeval sounds, this seething, screaming, shattering sea, these 
dancing stars, these gasping, shining, sparkling waves?! How can a flock of 
sheep react to an 'Ethereal feast of song' other than bleat!? […] O, I wish I 
could perform my symphony 50 years after my death!"

I’ve read of this quote being attributed to Mahler AFTER the premiere, and 
referencing the reaction.  Which – if true, would mean he only repeated what he 
had written to Alma five days before the premiere - FWIW, he composed it 
1901-2, but the world premiere wasn’t until October 18, 1904 – in Cologne.

Hope that helps.

Les Marsden
(209) 966-6988 (H)
(559) 708-6027 (Limited-reception cell)
7145 Snyder Creek Road
Mariposa, CA 95338-9641

Chairman, Mariposa County Planning Commission
President, Mariposa County Arts Council, Incorporated
Board Director, Economic Development Corporation of Mariposa County
Founding Music Director and Conductor, The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra ♫ ♪ ♫

Marsden Marx Pages (former career ended by disability): 
http://tinyurl.com/ygpj7og 
Mariposa Symphony Orchestra: http://tinyurl.com/ayohc8v 


From: Mariposa Symphony Orchestra 
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 9:09 PM
To: [email protected] 
Subject: Re: [Finale] [OT] mahler quote - writing for future orchestras

Yeah, jef – it was something along the lines (apropos his 5th symphony) that he 
was disappointed that it wasn’t understood when it was premiered and that he 
would love to be able to see its reception 50 years after his death.   I’ll 
take a look when I’m back down in my library; I have a pretty good idea in 
which book that quote is cited.

Les Marsden
(209) 966-6988 (H)
(559) 708-6027 (Limited-reception cell)
7145 Snyder Creek Road
Mariposa, CA 95338-9641

Chairman, Mariposa County Planning Commission
President, Mariposa County Arts Council, Incorporated
Board Director, Economic Development Corporation of Mariposa County
Founding Music Director and Conductor, The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra ♫ ♪ ♫

Marsden Marx Pages (former career ended by disability): 
http://tinyurl.com/ygpj7og 
Mariposa Symphony Orchestra: http://tinyurl.com/ayohc8v 



From: SN jef chippewa 
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 7:46 PM
To: [email protected] 
Subject: [Finale] [OT] mahler quote - writing for future orchestras


if there are any mahler freaks out there, do you know of this quote? 
i seem to remember reading somewhere that he said -- perhaps in 
response to criticisms of his "inaccessible" music -- that he was 
writing for the orchestras of the future / for the mucisians 50 years 
from now.  or something to that effect.

anyone?  if you have it, i could really use the full reference 
(publication, page nuymber etc.).  or even a convincing paraphrase...

thanks,
jef


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