If Mahler were alive today

[ibanezmonster]

I've been developing a strange habit the last few weeks, which seems to have culminated into thinking about this for about 4 hours straight tonight... what if Mahler were alive today?

Pretending he were resurrected, knew English (not sure if he did), and hung around me all day. I would have to explain the 20th century to him. 
What would he think about...

-his influence of Schoenberg, who shaped 20th century classical music more than anyone?
-WWII and the Holocaust?
-non-classical music genres?
-modern classical music in general?
-technology?

At first, it would be like talking to a baby for anyone who died that long ago. How would this affect him once used to it? Would his musical idiom be influenced by music after his?

[Mirror Image]

Greg....

Go....to....sleep....

[North Star]

Waiting for this to be added to the Composer Index... 

[TheGSMoeller]

...he'd be driving a Smart car.

[ibanezmonster]

...he'd be driving a Smart car.

hmmm... I can't picture such a distinguished person driving a Smart car. If he had the money, probably a Jaguar. And if he didn't, probably a typical sedan.

[North Star]

So, you thought of this for 4 hours, Greg? To what conclusions did you come? I bet he wouldn't like minimalism 
Or perhaps I should just let this topic die...

[TheGSMoeller]

hmmm... I can't picture such a distinguished person driving a Smart car. If he had the money, probably a Jaguar. And if he didn't, probably a typical sedan.

It was a short person joke, obviously didn't go over very well. 

[ibanezmonster]

It was a short person joke, obviously didn't go over very well. 

I guess not... I thought of the possibility and shrugged it off.

So, you thought of this for 4 hours, Greg? To what conclusions did you come? I bet he wouldn't like minimalism 
Or perhaps I should just let this topic die...

He probably wouldn't. He would still probably be pretty open-minded in general and find some newer music to like, though.

[Cato]

Mahler would be elated to see that his music is alive and more than well!

I do not believe that the rise of Hitler would surprise him, nor Stalin and his body count.

Schoenberg's "atonal" pre-1920 works he might not have too many problems with.  The later serial works, and the Webern school...I am not sure.

Hindemith would be comprehensible to him, and perhaps Hartmann.

Stockhausen    ?

[ibanezmonster]

I wonder what he'd think of Shostakovich, Pettersson, or Schnittke...?

[Gurn Blanston]

He'd be 152... 

[Brian]

He'd be 152... 

If Mahler had lived to be 85, he'd have made it to 1945, maybe just in time for the end of the war. Makes you wonder if he'd be exiled in the USA, going out for drinks with Schoenberg and Martinu.

[Cato]

Perhaps the Ultimate Question:

What would Mahler think of Deryck Cooke's "performing version" of the Symphony #10 ?

My impression: I think Mahler would be amazed that Mr. Cooke came so near to his ideas.

[ibanezmonster]

Perhaps the Ultimate Question:

What would Mahler think of Deryck Cooke's "performing version" of the Symphony #10 ?

My impression: I think Mahler would be amazed that Mr. Cooke came so near to his ideas.

I think the Ultimate Question would be "what would his 11th symphony sound like?"

But he probably would be impressed. And then, it would be interesting to see how he finishes his 10th and how he personally interprets his own music, which conductors he prefers to conduct his own music, etc.

[TheGSMoeller]

Would he prefer the recorded symphonies by Bernstein or Boulez?

[ibanezmonster]

Would he prefer the recorded symphonies by Bernstein or Boulez?

That's like asking "big government" or "small government." You don't ask that question in public! 

[Cato]

I think the Ultimate Question would be "what would his 11th symphony sound like?"

That is precisely why I wrote "perhaps" !   

Mahler's Eleventh Symphony might be closer to Schoenberg's Five Pieces for Orchestra than one would suspect.

[RebLem]

If Mahler were alive today, Das Lied von der Erde and Kindertotenlieder would have been transformed into epic series', each with perhaps scores of successors.

And why is this discussion in the Diner instead of in General Classical Music Discussion?