Insomnia has been a friend to me. It is told to be a predisposition to be dementia. I could not help worrying about it. Sometimes, sleep pill helps me as already told somewhere in this blog. On the other hand, I am unwilling to take such a med. Then, I listen to some music. Tonight, it was "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" by Gustav Mahler. I used to play it twice at different orchestras, once at the university and the other time much later in fifties of age. I always love the last song "Die Zwei blauen Augen". The story of broken heart at the sweetheart's wedding ends with this funeral march. Mahler has composed quite a few funeral marches in various works like this or in the 5th symphony etc. Each is quite impressive. It is well known he has been struggling with own death throughout his life. Through beauty of music, he seems to have pursued the solution of the problem of death.
After "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen", there was a few Lieders put in the source. One of them was "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" after a poem by Rueckert. This piece handles directly the problem of death. It sounds like peace which we might arrive at death. I always wonder if he has found any solution or the way to it when he finished the 9th symphony, the culmination of his music activity as a composer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTqbTP5qy7k
Anyway, it was not a right choice for a night cap.
After taking a pill, I may listen to Bach on headset in the darkness.
Mahler's songs are all wonderful aren't they? The 9th Symphony is for those contemplative moods when we ponder the end. You could include the 10th (first movement) and Das Lied von der Erde.
ReplyDeleteNext month our local orchestra is performing the 4th, which together with the 1st, is probably his most approachable symphony, I think you will agree. My wife has said she's also attending, which is unusual because she finds Mahler too heavy in general.
I trust you are keeping well.
John, how have you been doing? Rumor said you were pounding the brass in the internet! The world is changing! BTW, re Mahler. As told in the post, I believe he has struggled for the solution to the absurdity of death throughout almost his all works. It is the reason why they attract us and also why they make us flinch from devoting myself to them. A sense of unhealthiness. Asking about death and trying to find a solution in his works may be itself unhealthy. Still feel overwhelmed to reach the last movement of the 9th. I won't listen to it requently, though. His 4th or 7th are quite new to me. I would spend evening hours with them sometime. The Lied "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" was also a haunting work. I am a kind of ambiguous or of double barreled about Mahler. Have a good time in the concert with your wife.
DeleteI agree with you; late Mahler at our stage of life sometimes seems to offer no solutions, just a sensation of resignation and surrender. But I still listen to him at times.
ReplyDeleteI was quite active on internet CW but there are so few good operators that it became quite boring. A bit like radio CW!
I sometimes go over to James 9V1YC's QTH for a blast.
All the best.
The last movement of his 2nd symphony still gives us consolation. However, the older we get, the more we understand that it is just a consolation possibly for Mahler himself. I have an unorgettable memory of the songs sung between alto and soprano in the movement. I would tell it to you when we could meet in person again. How is James doing? I haven't talked to him for a decade or two. His set up must be pretty gorgeous and lets you talk to old friends world wide. Pass best wishes to him in your next visit.
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