Sinfonie Nr. 8
1906
While Gustav Mahler’s œuvre features many large-scale works, he surpassed himself with the Sinfonie Nr. 8 (8th Symphony), composed in the summer of 1906. Mahler described this work – exceptional in its form, design, size and success – as his “opus summum”. The seemingly disparate texts, taken from the medieval hymn “Veni creator spiritus” and the closing scene of Goethe’s Faust, are interwoven by means of shared thematic material and bear witness to the composer’s tremendous spiritual and religious aspirations. The already massive forces of a large symphony orchestra are buttressed throughout the symphony by three choirs and eight soloists.
Experienced conductor and accompanist Nicholas Kok has created a practical vocal score to aid the rehearsal process for singers and accompanists. Without unnecessarily simplifying the orchestral parts and by paying close attention to the voice leading and the bass line, Kok has reduced the dense original score while creating the most realistic sound possible for the rehearsal room. Rehearsal marks in the standard orchestral parts have been incorporated so that the edition can be used in conjunction with existing scores.
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Composer
Gustav Mahler
| 1860-1911The composer and conductor Gustav Mahler was born in the Bohemian town of Kalischt on 7 July 1860. He studied in Vienna under, among others, Anton Bruckner. Following his studies he was a theater conductor in Hall (upper Austria), then he held positions in Prague, Leipzig, Budapest and Hamburg. From 1897 to 1907 he was conductor and Director of the Vienna Court Opera. From 1898 to 1901 he also conducted the Philharmonic concerts. In 1907 he went to New York, where he conducted the Metropolitan Opera and from he 1909 conducted at the opera alongside Artuor Toscanini. In the same year he was also appointed conducter of the New York Philarmonic. Gustav Mahler died in Vienna on 18 May 1911. Personal details
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Songwriter / Librettist
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
| -1832Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is today a dazzling figure in world literature. He was born in Frankfurt am Main and initially studied law, but then followed his inclination towards poetry. With the drama Götz von Berlechingen and the epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, he made important contributions to the literary movement of Sturm und Drang.
From 1775 onwards, Goethe was employed at the court of Duke Carl August in Weimar. In addition to his work at court as a minister and director of the Weimar Court Theatre, he wrote his major works here, including the drama Faust, other novels and many poems, which are still a source of inspiration for musical adaptations today. His poems were a source of inspiration for composers, especially in the 19th century, such as Franz Schubert. Schubert alone set 52 of Goethe's works to music, the best known of which are probably the songs Gretchen am Spinnrade and Erlkönig. Goethe also became acquainted with several composers of the time. He was particularly enthusiastic about the young Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, who also set Goethe's lines to music in the ballad Die erste Walpurgisnacht (The First Walpurgis Night). Personal details
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