Gustav Mahler: Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen: SATB: Vocal Score

Gustav Mahler's Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen expertly arranged for Baritone solo and 8-part Choir (SSAATTBarB) by Bo Holten (2010). Text by Friedrich Rückert. Programme note Gustav Mahler: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (arr.: Holten 2010) is an arrangement for baritone soloist and 8-part choir of one of Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder. There is already an often performed arrangement for 16-voice choir by Clytus Gottwald which Holten has himself conducted a few times. But Holten does not really think that Gottwald does justice toMahler’s song; among other things it lacks a soloist who can express the “Ich” that is so central to the text. Holten takes his cue from Mahler’s piano setting but with Mahler’s own sublime orchestral setting firmly in mind. The choir thus functions as an (orchestral) accompaniment for the soloist. Holten has taken pains to stay as close to the model as possible within the constraints of what in fact can be sung by a choir. And he has striven to function solely as an arranger and as far as possible to avoid mixing his own personality with Mahler’s.(Klaus Møller-Jørgensen 2012)

This volume comprises some of Gustav Mahler?s most significant and intimate work featuring authoritative editions of his orchestral settings of five poems by Friedrich Rückert and two songs to texts from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy?s Miraculous Horn). Contents include songs to Rückert?s ?Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder? (Look not love on my work unended!); ?Ich atmet? einen linden Duft? (I breathed the breath of blossoms red); ?Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen? (O garish world long since thou hast lost me); ?Liebst du um Schönheit? (Lovst thou but beauty); and ?Um Mitternacht? (At midnighthour). From the Wunderhorn texts a rich source of poetic materials that occupied Mahler for fourteen years- come ?Der Tamboursg?sell? (The drummer-boy) and ?Revelge? (The dead drummer). English versions of all seven songs by John Bernhoff are included in the front matter of this publication. Original Dover (2002) compilation of seven songs published separately in authoritative early editions.