"The sun departs behind the mountains ..."
opens the last part of Gustav Mahler incredible symphony "The Song of the Earth". It is based on famous Chinese poetry of Li Tai-Po. The selection of particular poems made by Mahler reflects his message hidden in the music: the hidden farewell to life. It is quite amazing that he used Chinese poetry to express it - however - for a good reason - Chinese wisdom and its contemplation of earthly beauty along with expression of rootlessness and awareness of human fate is well known. See translations of the songs.
The music itself is almost mystical, the final movement "Der Abschied" can be listen again and again and again....
Last but not least - listening to Leonard Bernstein conducting this symphonic piece is worth waiting long into the night ....
See the song with translations. See the recording I listened to.
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I watched the Bernstein film about Mahler that you mentioned in an earlier post. He is amazing, and you are doing an awesome job of showing how amazing his art is... and how relevant to life! Again, I thank you.
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