Blind Comparison: Mahler Symphony no.1

Started by madaboutmahler, August 18, 2012, 11:07:22 AM

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madaboutmahler

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on August 19, 2012, 07:56:01 AM
I'm seriously considering holding a Flight of the Bumblebee comparison. I have about 85-90 different versions, can't wait to find out who holds the greatest performance of this insect-inspired masterpiece!

;D
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Brian

Greg, on a more serious note, I'm seriously considering a Gaspard de la Nuit comparison. It's short and in multiple parts for multiple rounds, it inspires widely different readings, and we need something that doesn't feature a full orchestra!

Quote from: mc ukrneal on August 19, 2012, 05:08:43 AM
Of course I'm in. It's Mahler with the Baton in the Drawing Room! :)
I, for one, greatly look forward to agreeing with you on every single ranking.  ;D

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: Brian on August 19, 2012, 09:24:48 AM
Greg, on a more serious note, I'm seriously considering a Gaspard de la Nuit comparison. It's short and in multiple parts for multiple rounds, it inspires widely different readings, and we need something that doesn't feature a full orchestra!
I, for one, greatly look forward to agreeing with you on every single ranking.  ;D


I agree, Brian! Count me in.
I was seriously thinking about suggesting something more from classical or baroque era, and something definitley chamber like a Schubert SQ or even a Beethoven piano sonata.

Perhaps I'll just have to create one on my own.

Sergeant Rock

Considering how many dropped out of the Zarathustra finale, is it wise to propose more blind listening threads? Most people have limited time, making even one difficult to finish. If we have multiple comparisons going on, I think we'll burn out.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on August 19, 2012, 09:41:31 AM
Considering how many dropped out of the Zarathustra finale, is it wise to propose more blind listening threads? Most people have limited time, making even one difficult to finish. If we have multiple comparisons going on, I think we'll burn out.

Sarge

You're right, and I wouldn't propose a new one until the current one is complete. And I feel participants would drop out of any of them, it happened in Mahler 6, and Zarathustra.

Brian

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on August 19, 2012, 09:30:52 AM

I agree, Brian! Count me in.
I was seriously thinking about suggesting something more from classical or baroque era, and something definitley chamber like a Schubert SQ or even a Beethoven piano sonata.
We definitely have not had the classical/early eras represented nearly enough. I was considering Beethoven but then ran into the issue of judging HIP vs. non-HIP and didn't settle on a solution.

johndoe21ro

#26
Trying to get beyond my newb status, I must say that when it comes to Mahler, I've always taken comfort in Bernstein, Chailly, Bertini or Gielen's interpretations. I love Bernstein but unfortunately I slightly prefer Chailly's box (Decca's box to be more accurate) because of a better sound quality. Mahler is so much about sound. You have to perceive the orchestra's potential, to let the orchestra mutate into various themes and emotions, to let yourself get sunk by its sheer power, by it's strength, by its gravity. You have to perceive its width, its depth... you have to feel the littleness of you while being engulfed by Mahler's universe... I think I have some Boulez too but he kind of stays behind. Mahler doesn't seem to be his true territory.

jwinter

I haven't tried one of these before, but what the heck -- I'll give it a shot  :)   I have oodles of Mahler on the shelf, but I honestly don't listen to Mahler 1 very often -- should be interesting!
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted.

-- William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

madaboutmahler

Quote from: jwinter on August 19, 2012, 04:18:33 PM
I haven't tried one of these before, but what the heck -- I'll give it a shot  :)   I have oodles of Mahler on the shelf, but I honestly don't listen to Mahler 1 very often -- should be interesting!

Great! Welcome to the Blind Comparisons! :)

Quote from: johndoe21ro on August 19, 2012, 03:04:46 PM
Trying to get beyond my newb status, I must say that when it comes to Mahler, I've always taken comfort in Bernstein, Chailly, Bertini or Gielen's interpretations. I love Bernstein but unfortunately I slightly prefer Chailly's box (Decca's box to be more accurate) because of a better sound quality. Mahler is so much about sound. You have to perceive the orchestra's potential, to let the orchestra mutate into various themes and emotions, to let yourself get sunk by its sheer power, by it's strength, by its gravity. You have to perceive its width, its depth... you have to feel the littleness of you while being engulfed by Mahler's universe... I think I have some Boulez too but he kind of stays behind. Mahler doesn't seem to be his true territory.

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I wonder how Bernstein will do in this comparison, considering he was one of the first to be eliminated in the first round of the Mahler 6 comparison, which was a surprise to all of us I think!!

I'll probably start putting together the links tommorow, hopefully they'll be with you by the end of the week. :)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

DavidRoss

Way cool -- looking forward to it and expect I'll have time to participate.
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

madaboutmahler

Quote from: DavidRoss on August 20, 2012, 01:43:14 PM
Way cool -- looking forward to it and expect I'll have time to participate.

Great, David! I am very excited about starting this comparison! :)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

johndoe21ro

#31
Quote from: madaboutmahler on August 20, 2012, 10:11:45 AM
Great! Welcome to the Blind Comparisons! :)

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I wonder how Bernstein will do in this comparison, considering he was one of the first to be eliminated in the first round of the Mahler 6 comparison, which was a surprise to all of us I think!!

I'll probably start putting together the links tommorow, hopefully they'll be with you by the end of the week. :)

Isn't all this about understanding Mahler? I agree you/we are many but being many doesn't make you/us less susceptible to subjectivity. Many might not be enough. I still believe that Lenny knew his lessons well. If this was because he was jewish too or not, that I don't know. Maybe he managed to establish an ethnic connection. Maybe thinking jewish is the answer. The ethnic isolation, the angst, the exotic motifs... I think Lenny knew how to handle them. I realize now that this problem might be even more complicated. A recording is not only about orchestra and conductor, unfortunately. There is a posibility that some of the conductor's wishes might be twisted by the technical team who manages the recording, the mastering, etc. What I'm trying to say is that maybe Lenny wanted the funeral trumpet solo in the 5th or some woodwinds to play in a manner and the mikes and the mastering twisted his wish one way or another, more or less, to a smaller/bigger degree. Sorry for expressing myself in so many words and phrases. Hope my words make sense to someone... ;D

madaboutmahler

Very interesting post, Radu, thank you for posting! Perhaps that could be a reason why Bernstein connected with Mahler so much. I love the fact that when he arrived in Vienna for the first time, he was wearing a t-shirt saying 'I love Mahler!'. And of course, the understanding of all of this could be very important in this particular symphony, with the use of the Jewish themes in the funeral march.
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

TheGSMoeller


Beale

Hello madaboutmahler

I would like to take part in this. Should be a great learning experience.

TimH


madaboutmahler

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on August 20, 2012, 04:16:12 PM
and the winner is....BOULEZ  8)
:D
I wonder if Boulez will do as well as he did last time in M6..? This is all so exciting!

Great to have you taking part, Beale and TimH! :)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

xochitl


madaboutmahler

"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

TheGSMoeller

http://www.youtube.com/v/WLR98iCcYOI


Found a good sample we could use for the third movement, this performance might win gold!