[ePub] Lower Brazos River Canals (Images of America) by Lora-Marie Bernard at Arts-Photography

Review

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful. Not just another Mahler BiographyBy Paul FishbeinNot Just another Mahler BiographyByPaul Fishbein Not long ago; I thoroughly disagreed with Paul Gelman about his review of Norman Lebrechts recent book on Gustav Mahler. I found humor; entertainment; and profound understanding in this subjective study of Mahlers pertinence for us a century after his untimely death. However; I can only agree completely with Mr. Gelmans eloquent review of Jens Malte Fischers one volume massive biography of Mahler. I had planned to write a detailed essay about this marvelous book; but after reading Gelman; I have little to add--other than to add my voice in agreement that this is a work well worth reading and that there is much to be gleaned from devoting precious time in closely studying what he has created. This is a biography that stands above almost all of the many that have been published on Mahler; as it not only provides a broad perspective about his life; but with great intelligence and sensitivity; paints a picture of turn of the century Vienna and its culture. I finished this book feeling that I finally had gotten to "know" Mahler the man and his works. After the 4 volume biography of Mahler by Henry Louis de La Grange; I felt that any one volume effort would pale in contrast. But such is not the case with Fischers tome. He does not give a day by day account of his subjects life; with each and every concert or performance review; but he does provide us with the pertinent articles; and one comes away feeling that we have lived through his experiences; his crises and triumphs. What de La Grange is to Mahler; Ernest Newman; with his 4 volume biography; was to Richard Wagner. There was a time when I felt that no single volume could match that wonderful study on the controversial composers life. But when Joachim Kohlers one volume biography was published; it was clear that more had been gained from less detail. The forest could finally be seen in contrast to the individual trees. Now we have Mr. Fischers biography of Mahler; and it is a similar contribution. Newman is to Kohler as de La Grange is to Fischer. I would not wish to be without any of them. Finally a word on the translation: It should be noted that both Kohlers and Fischers studies have been brilliantly translated from the German by Stewart Spencer; a respected musical scholar whose abilities are well evinced in these efforts. Thanks are due to him for expanding the audience for these valuable books.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is the most comprehensive Mahler biography that Ive been ...By Morris T. ReaganThis is the most comprehensive Mahler biography that Ive been able to find. It is a true BIOGRAPHY; not a mere chronicle. Each of his major works is discussed in some detail in laymans language and a well-documented discussion of the composers inner life and philosophy is given. My only quibble is that the authors prose is a bit wordy and he sometimes uses recondite words where more familiar words would have severed as well.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Has It All Been Some Cosmic Joke?By The Mouth of The SouthHaving tried to get through the massiveness of La Granges overly comprehensive biography; I longed for something with more brevity. Fischer does that with alacrity here. Ive been a devotee of Mahler for a long time now; and reading this account of his life during college only made my appreciation grow. Fishcers style is clear; intelligent; and engaging. There are no longueurs here; and for the meat of the text only being around 600 or so pages; he does an able job of capturing the fullness of Mahlers life. Oxfords publishing is very handsome; the typeface beautiful in its legibility. Get this one if you want to know about the man; and skip La Grange.