Gustav Mahler's five-year-old daughter, Maria, died of diphtheria in 1907 in the same villa where he had composed the Rückert songs, and he never returned there.
Composition History
Most of the "Five Songs on Texts by Friedrich Rückert" were written in the summer of 1901, which was likely the most compositionally productive summer of Mahler's life.
Composition History
Gustav Mahler wrote the "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" (Songs of a Wayfarer) in late 1884, at age 24, during his time as director of music at Kassel.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mahler's "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" (Songs of a Wayfarer) were conceived as if a wayfarer, having suffered misfortune, sets out aimlessly into the world.
Composition History
Mahler composed the song "Liebst du um Schönheit" (If You Love for Beauty) as a birthday present for his young wife, Alma.
Composer Biography
Friedrich Rückert, whose texts Mahler set in the "Kindertotenlieder" (Songs on the Death of Children), lost his own children, Ernst and Luise, to death around 1833/34.
Composition History
Mahler composed the "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" (Songs of a Wayfarer) during a passionate and complicated love affair with the singer Johanna Richter, to whom he dedicated the songs.
