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Book Review
Dec. 29th, 2011 08:16 pmThe Life of Mahler
by Peter Franklin
Despite my relative unfamiliarity with Mahler's music, I enjoyed Peter Franklin's solid biography of the composer a lot. In addition to giving a straightforward narrative of Mahler's life, Franklin explores the emotional and aesthetic content of his major works as they relate to the events of his life. Franklin is also quite even-handed in his examination of Mahler's often troubled relationship with his wife Alma - he does not demonize or idealize either of them. Franklin also does a good job of elucidating the contradictions and dichotomies present in Mahler's life and music: 19th century romanticism and the emerging modernism; inarticulate nature and articulate creation; high art and popular culture; the progressive and the conservative or traditional; programmatic music and absolute music. It was a very satisfying read and a good preparation for the further exploration of Mahler's work.
by Peter Franklin
Despite my relative unfamiliarity with Mahler's music, I enjoyed Peter Franklin's solid biography of the composer a lot. In addition to giving a straightforward narrative of Mahler's life, Franklin explores the emotional and aesthetic content of his major works as they relate to the events of his life. Franklin is also quite even-handed in his examination of Mahler's often troubled relationship with his wife Alma - he does not demonize or idealize either of them. Franklin also does a good job of elucidating the contradictions and dichotomies present in Mahler's life and music: 19th century romanticism and the emerging modernism; inarticulate nature and articulate creation; high art and popular culture; the progressive and the conservative or traditional; programmatic music and absolute music. It was a very satisfying read and a good preparation for the further exploration of Mahler's work.
