Mahler and Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Open Part 1 in Youtube – here
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Open Part 2 in Youtube – here
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Open Part 3 in Youtube – here
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Bonus! Read Peter Davison’s essay on Mahler and Beethoven, including thoughts on Mahler’s relationship to the Pastoral Symphony – here
The connection between Mahler and Beethoven has fascinated musicologists, conductors, and fans. Both composers drew from the sounds of nature and folk music. Both wove their personal biographies into their music. Mahler believed that his music would eventually be performed as often as Beethoven’s. Beethoven’s 250th birthday this month also gives us good reason to include him in the Mini Festival.
Mahler conducted Beethoven’s music often. He “retouched” many of Beethoven’s scores, taking advantage of the changes in instruments and concert halls. Mahler’s use of doubling, as well as other changes, brings out melodic lines that he wanted to hear but that he felt were lost in Beethoven’s orchestration. In 2019, MahlerFest XXXII featured Mahler’s “retouching” of Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3.
Musicologist Peter Davison is no stranger to the MahlerFest audience, having spoken at our symposium numerous times. Davison also contributed “Mahler in Our Own Times,” an essay and three-part video, for our Virtual Festival in May 2020. See part 1 of that video.
In this video, MahlerFest Artistic Director Kenneth Woods has a virtual conversation with Davison about the association between these two masters.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3