Das Lied von der Erde

History Das Lied von der Erde

Composed

Introduction Das Lied von der Erde

Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth) is a composition for two voices and orchestra by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911). Composed between Year 1908 and Year 1909 following the most painful period in Mahler's life (Year 1907). The songs address themes such as Living, Parting and Salvation.

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Lied 1: Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde

Drinking song of the world's misery

  • Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde.
  • Key: a minor.
  • Allegro pesante. (Cheerful heavy.)
  • After Chinese poet: Li Bai.
  • Voice: Tenor.
  • Duration: 8 minutes.

The first movement continually returns to the refrain, Dunkel ist das Leben, ist der Tod (literally, 'Dark is life, is death'), ...

Lied 2: Der Einsame im Herbst

The lonely man in autumn

  • Der Einsame im Herbst.
  • Key: d minor.
  • Etwas schleppend. Ermudet. (Somewhat dragging. Weary.)
  • After Chinese poet: Qian Qi.
  • Voice: Alto (or Baritone).
  • Solo: Windinstruments.
  • Duration: 10 minutes.

This movement is a much softer, less turbulent movement. Marked 'somewhat dragging and exhausted', it begins with a repetitive ...

Lied 3: Von der Jugend

Of youth

  • Von der Jugend.
  • Key: B-flat Major.
  • First scherzo.
  • Behaglich heiter. (Comfortably cheerful.)
  • After Chinese poet: Li Bai.
  • Voice: Tenor.
  • Duration: 3 minutes.

The third movement is the most obviously pentatonic and faux-Asian. The form is ternary, the third part being a greatly abbreviated revision of the first. It is ...

Lied 4: Von der Schonheit

Of beauty

  • Von der Schonheit.
  • Key: G Major.
  • Comodo. Dolcissimo. (Comfortable. Very sweet.)
  • After Chinese poet: Li Bai.
  • Voice: Alto (or Baritone).
  • Duration: 8 minutes.

The music of this movement is mostly soft ...

Lied 5: Der Trunkene im Fruhling

The drunk man in spring

  • Der Trunkene im Fruhling.
  • Key: A Major.
  • Second scherzo.
  • Allegro. Keck, aber nicht zu schnell. (Audacious, but not too fast.)
  • After Chinese poet: Li Bai.
  • Voice: Tenor.
  • Solo: Violin and flute.
  • Duration: 4 minutes.

The second scherzo of the work is provided by the fifth movement. Like ...

Lied 6: Der Abschied

The farewell

  • Der Abschied.
  • Key: C minor to C Major.
  • Schwer. (Heavy).
  • After Chinese poets: Mong Kao Yen and Wang Sei.
  • Voice: Alto (or Baritone).
  • Solo: Mandolin, harp, celesta.
  • Duration: 31 minutes.

The final movement is nearly as long as the previous five movements combined. Its text is drawn from two ...

Orchestration Das Lied von der Erde

Woodwind