{"product_id":"25298-mahler-gustav-broadside-defense-of-the-composer-s-re-orchestration-of-beethoven-s-ninth-symphony","title":"Mahler, Gustav. (1860-1911) Broadside \"Defense\" of the Composer's Re-Orchestration of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony","description":"\u003cp\u003eLarge single sheet flyer, printed for the composer and conductor and distributed at his \u003cspan\u003eFebruary 22, 1900 performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. \u003c\/span\u003eTwo small tears to left edge and a small stain and tear to lower right corner, else fine. 13.5 x 8 inches (34 x 25.5 cm). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery rare.  We have not traced any examples of this important document ever having appeared at auction and Worldcat likewise locates no institutional copies. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn February 18, 1900, Mahler conducted the Wiener Philharmoniker at the Musikverein in Vienna at the annual Nicolaikonzert, in his own re-re-orchestration of \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBeethoven’s \u003cem\u003eNinth Symphony\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehis decades-long project to modernize the symphony through the incorporation of modern instruments and techniques, an attempt, according to him, to enhance the expression to Beethoven’s intentions, who he felt had not had an orchestra sufficiently suited to his musical imagination.  \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMahler's orchestration of the Ninth remains controversial and its critical reception has been mixed.  His erasures and additions in the choir passages in the finale —which he doubled by other instruments, because he considered them otherwise not properly set in relief — leave even present-day listeners perplexed. But his intention was to bring out in this score the timbre clarity and the “melodischer Gang” (melodic ductus)—which were also the goal of Wagner’s indications in his own reworkings.  Indeed, Mahler was following a very personal ideal of performance, pursuing a much broader and more nuanced concept of “Werktreue” (faithfulness to the original). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMahler’s \u003cem\u003eRetuschen\u003c\/em\u003e of Beethoven’s “sacred text,\" however, \u003cspan\u003earoused a savage response from critics, one calling it \"scarcely recognizable\" and a \"forgery.\"\u003c\/span\u003e In \u003cem\u003eDeutsche Zeitung\u003c\/em\u003e, a newspaper with anti-Semitic orientation, Theodor Helm describes Mahler’s performance of Beethoven’s “Wunderwerk” (miracle work) as alienating and too far removed from “wie es der Meister schrieb” (as the master wrote).  Indeed, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eK.M. Knittel suggests that pervasive antisemitism in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003efin-de-siècle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vienna offers the best explanation for critics' reactions. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMahler was so taken aback by these criticisms that he decided to issue an explanatory note, responding to critics stressing that he had proceeded carefully, noting that he was not the first conductor to make changes to the Ninth, and stating that he had a \"veneration\" for Beethoven.  He conducted a repeat performance on February 22, 1900 and \u003c\/span\u003ethe present “defense” was distributed gratis at this second performance in which the overture was not included. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62644361527455,"sku":"25298","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/4826\/7423\/files\/MahlerDefenseoftheComposer_sRe-OrchestrationofBeethoven25298b.jpg?v=1768857150","url":"https:\/\/www.schubertiademusic.com\/products\/25298-mahler-gustav-broadside-defense-of-the-composer-s-re-orchestration-of-beethoven-s-ninth-symphony","provider":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}