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Deutscher Musikeditionpreis Best Edition Awarded to New Critical Edition of Gustav Mahler's "Titan"

Apr. 01, 2020

Deutscher Musikeditionpreis Best Edition Awarded to New Critical Edition of Gustav Mahler's "Titan"

The new complete edition of Gustav Mahler's Titan has been granted a "Best Edition" Award by the Deutscher Musikeditionpreis. The work, published by Universal Edition, was edited by Reinhold Kubik and Stephan E. Hefling. Gustav Mahler's Titan is a tone poem for large orchestra in symphonic form, in two parts and five movements (1888-1889/1894). The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, under the baton of Thomas Hengelbrock, gave the premiere performance using this critical edition in 2014.

Gustav Mahler composed the "Titan" at the beginning of 1888 in Leipzig, where he experienced his first success as a composer. The first performance of the work took place in Budapest in November 1889, and the composer – as he often did – fundamentally revised it and gave a repeat performance of the symphony in Hamburg four years later. But this version of the work was not well received, as was a further revised version, which was presented in Weimar in 1894.

The new critical complete edition takes this last manuscript of the performances of Hamburg and Weimar as a basis since it reflects the composer's last thoughts and corrections. In addition, the edition includes historical background on the creation of the piece, reviews of the Hamburg and Weimar performances, a discussion about the programs and underlying ideas of the work, color illustrations of important sources, and a detailed critical report describing variants, problematic passages and all editorial interpolations. The Deutscher Musikeditionpreis notes:

"In terms of design, the edition is both modest and beautiful. The only eye-catching element on the score's delicate light- blue title page is Mahler's signature, surrounded by further text in Garamond typeface. This wonderful writing unfolds outstandingly, especially on the inside pages where text is thoughtfully spaced out against a clean white backdrop. The bilingual texts are organized brilliantly... High praise for the musical score itself: Many of Mahler's original notes were incorporated into the extraordinarily clean score, so that the performers can come as close as possible to the composer's intention."


(Gustav Mahler/Titan/NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester/Thomas Hengelbrock, conductor)

To learn more about Gustav Mahler, visit: universaledition.com.

Gustav Mahler
Titan (1888-1889/1894)
tone poem in symphonic form in two parts and five movements (1888-1889/1894)
in D major
for large orchestra
4.4.4.3-7.4.3.1-timp-3perc-hp(1–2), str
60'

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