In recommending a good book about Mahler, much depends on the intended reader. For the relative newcomer to Mahler, I always recommend Jonathan Carr's excellent "Mahler, a Biography." (1998, The Overlook Press) This deals with the essentials of Mahler's life in a manner devoid of sensationalism. Carr avoids repeating much of the folk lore that has accumulated around Mahler and that has long been debunked. Carr does a much better job of sticking to the facts than Blaukopf, and his book is more readable, perhaps because it was written in English and did not suffer translation. Just my opinion.
For a general description and guide to the symphonies, I suggest Constantin Floros: "Gustav Mahler, The Symphonies." (original version 1985; English version 1993, Amadeus Press, Portland, OR) For readers who are ready for serious musical analysis, go to the indispensable volumes of Donald Mitchell: "1. The Early Years; 2. The Wunderhorn Years; 3. Songs & Symphonies of Life and Death." The first two are in paperback published by University of California Press; Volume 3 by Boydell Press, Woodbridge. For serious, detailed Mahler biography, the gold standard is the exhaustive four volume set by Henry-Louis de La Grange. Not for beginners or the faint of heart! Before buying Lebrecht's "Why Mahler," you might do well to read the customer reviews at Amazon.com. If you must read a book by Norman Lebrecht, let it be "Mahler Remembered." This is essentially a collection of reminiscences told through the eyes of people who knew and worked with Mahler. It is a useful and readable reference book. Good luck and good hunting. David Lamb in Seattle _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
