{"id":229,"date":"2007-01-02T16:03:24","date_gmt":"2007-01-02T16:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2007\/01\/02\/kindertotenlieder\/"},"modified":"2007-01-10T02:11:16","modified_gmt":"2007-01-10T02:11:17","slug":"kindertotenlieder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2007\/01\/02\/kindertotenlieder\/","title":{"rendered":"Kindertotenlieder"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m hard at work studying Mahler\u2019s masterpiece, Das Lied von der Erde (in Arnold Schoenberg\u2019s reduction) for our concert with the Rose City Chamber Orchestra on February 3rd<\/sup><\/a>. With Mahler\u2019s vocal music very much on my mind, and with some new video functionality on my website, I thought now might be a good time to try a new kind of series on the blog. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Over the next several days, I\u2019m going to try creating an integrated series of blog posts and video uploads on Mahler\u2019s great song cycle, Kindertotenlieder. The video content is from a concert I did with the wonderful Mexican baritone Jesus Suaste and the State of <\/span>Mexico Symphony Orchestra<\/span> that was filmed by Mexican TV. <\/span><\/p>\n

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I\u2019m not sure what all of the posts will look like. A few years back, I came across a wonderful series of essays on Kindertotenlieder by Mahler expert Mitch Friedfeld, who has graciously given my permission to quote them here. I must admit, Mitch\u2019s writing on the piece is lucid and nearly definitive, so I\u2019m not at all sure I\u2019ll be able to add much of value. In fact, I had originally thought I would simply pair my films with his essays, but I always find that things evolve in unpredictable ways on Avftp. Expect a lot of Mitch and a bit of Ken.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Studying and performing these songs was one of the most enriching and deeply transformative experiences I\u2019ve had as a musician. It is my hope that this series might just open a couple of pairs of ears to them who\u2019ve previously been scared off by the title. Far from being morbid, Mahler\u2019s Kindertotenlieder is a work of true spirituality. It is a piece which deals with the most tragic of subject matter in a way that is profoundly healing. <\/span><\/p>\n

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I\u2019d like to make a special plea that listeners to these works, both first timers and those of you who\u2019ve known them for years, might take a moment to share your reactions to the pieces via the comment function. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Okay, roll film…<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re enjoying this series, you may want to visit my series on the Second Symphony, which begins here<\/a>.<\/a><\/span>
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c. 2006 Kenneth Woods <\/span><\/p>\n