Gustav Mahler loved nature. It gave him inspiration; it connected him to the essential aspects of being alive; he even referred to himself as the “Singer of Nature”. At the same time, he required absolute silence to develop the creative thoughts that led to his compositions. How, then, could he immerse himself in a natural setting without being distracted by all its sounds?
Steinbach
Maiernigg
Toblach
The solution occurred to him in the summer of 1893, while spending an idyllic vacation while composing at Steinbach am Attersee: build a small structure, a composing hut, surrounded by the fields and lake he so adored. Here he could witness the natural world around him and literally close the door to any audible distractions. The idea was a complete success. The Steinbach composing hut was ready for use in 1894, and the following three summers saw the completion of the Second Symphony, the composition of the entire Third Symphony, and numerous songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn.
Today all three composing huts are preserved and open to the public. What is more, they each host an annual summer festival celebrating Gustav Mahler, his time, his life, and his music.
They provide a unique opportunity to experience these historic buildings and the stunningly beautiful settings that so inspired the great composer.
