Gustav Mahler the Protomodernist

Authors

Austin M. Doub, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Publication Date

4-29-2020

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Modernism, Mahler, Gustav, symphony, protomodernism, Classical music, Romantic music, Germany, Austria, Austro-German, tonal conservatism, defamiliarization, paraphrasing

Abstract

Steeped in a cultivated European tradition and burdened by several personal tragedies, Gustav Mahler undeniably shaped the course of classical music leading into the twentieth century. Holding fast to late Romantic stylistic conventions including complex rhythmic concepts, emotional and expansive melodies, and a strict adherence to form allowed the forward-thinking composer to seamlessly introduce modern elements into his symphonies. Through Mahler’s commanding symphonic output, the composer successfully maintained strong Austro-German stylistic principles while propelling the genre forward. In these symphonic writings, modern techniques of tonal decentralization, chromaticism, quotation, and paraphrasing are met with cohesive and compelling narratives to create balanced and engaging compositions. By studying Gustav Mahler’s symphonic writings, one can both gain an understanding of his compositional brilliance and acknowledge his legacy as a pivotal protomodernist who worked to bridge the musical gap into early twentieth-century modernism.

Volume

11

Issue

1

Article Number

2

DOI

10.15385/jmo.2020.11.1.2

Recommended Citation

Doub, Austin M. (2020) "Gustav Mahler the Protomodernist," Musical Offerings: Vol. 11: No. 1, Article 2.
DOI: 10.15385/jmo.2020.11.1.2
Available at: https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/musicalofferings/vol11/iss1/2

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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