I’m not here to start drama, so I’ve blocked out the names. I just want to talk about the content of this exchange.
To fill in the gaps for those of you who may not know, Mahler is a famous turn-of-the-20th-century symphonist and orchestral lied composer.* He’s known for being… a lot. His symphonies require some of the biggest orchestras that have ever been requested and they are among the longest you’ll hear in normal concert repertoire.** For people who are into it, they give you the same kind of rush as a heavy metal band going balls-to-the-wall all night.***
Because of this awesome concert experience, many such people think Mahler is among the cream of the symphonist crop. Admittedly, if you like late 19th century German aesthetic theory, he checks all the boxes. He’s an organicist, he’s got lots of extramusical references you can mine, he’s got a lot of personal angst that he directly expresses in his music. He’s certainly an archetypical artist-hero.
But the problem that I have with this exchange is that it implies a lack of Mahler is directly linked to a lack of quality or taste, and it just dismisses people who, for one reason or another, do something different. Surely I don’t have to explain why it’s inherently limiting to set one man, from one country, from just over a hundred years ago as a litmus test for modern-day, worldwide orchestral quality. Certainly there are plenty of reasons not to perform Mahler. To give a few: not having the personnel; not having a conductor lined up (it’s a massive undertaking for one person to put together!); not having mature musicians who can actually play it (e.g. high school orchestras). Even if these people liked Mahler—not everyone does—they may just not have the means to execute those particular works, and that doesn’t mean they’re bad. Even if they don’t like Mahler—not everyone does—that doesn’t mean they’re bad!
I’m not one to just point out a problem without a solution, though, so here’s one way the exchange would be a healthier celebration of music as a whole:
anon: Why does Mahler not get the appreciation he deserves, no one in my orchestra knows who he is :’’(
respondent: I don’t know! I wish more people knew about him, though, because he’s pretty awesome. I could sing Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt all day!****
reblogger: if you’re in an orchestra and don’t know who Mahler is, I would totally recommend Symphony No. 1—it has a minor key “Frère Jacques”!
Obviously that is a really contrived exchange and I hope people would write in genuine ways that reflect their love and personality. That’s the point. I wish people could say “I want people to pay more attention to so-and-so!”***** without that including “those other people suck!”******
Can we just support each other in loving music and try to get other people excited too without turning our noses up at each other?
*orchestral lieder are German poems set to music for singer and orchestra
**Symphony No. 8 is rightly called the “Symphony of a Thousand”
***although the same folks who make these kinds of comments tend to be the same ones who will chide you for visibly enjoying the experience. See my video on the topic.
****and having written that, now I absolutely will
*****and I hope “so-and-so” will start to include other figures, too, like performers, impresarios, librettists, choreographers, etc.
******That said, I still reserve the right to roll my eyes and mutter sarcastic comments under my breath when your entire program or season is Soft Bourgeois White Supremacy™
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