10 Die stille Stadt Alma Schindler Mahler (1879-1964) Richard Dehmel (1863-1920) ‘Alma Schindler, celebrated as “the most beautiful woman in Vienna,” was educated to become a composer. Her father, a noted Viennese portrait painter, regularly hosted gatherings attended by the leading cultural figures in Vienna, and Alma grew up in this ratified creative atmosphere. During her lifetime she was involved with important men in the creative arts, and married three of them: composer Gustav Mahler, architect Walter Gropius, and writer Franz Werfel. She studied counterpoint with Robert Gound and Joseph Labor, and composition with Alexander von Zemlinsky, who taught Arnold Schoenberg. While a teenager, she began to compose music in many forms; however, her only surviving compositions are lieder. Fourteen songs are published and two exist in ‘manuscript. In 1902, Alma Schindler martied Gustav Mahler, then director of the Vienna Opera and 19 years her senior. During their engagement, he insisted she stop composing and regard his music as hers. He wrote to her shortly before the wedding, “How do you picture the married life ofa husband and wife who are both composers? Have you any idea how ridiculous and degrading such a competitive relationship would eventually become? You must become what I need.” Alma was to write late, “He considered the marriage of Robert and Clara Schumann ‘ridiculous’ fin their desire to publish songs together). He sent me a long leter demanding that | instantly give up my music and live for his alone.” In 1910 asa result of a marital criss, Mahler, who had not heard one note of ‘Alma's music when he demanded she give up composing, insisted on helping her publish hee songs; Fin Lieder (1910) was the result. The songs in this anthology are all part ofthat collection. The texts display Alma’s affinity for the poets and poetry of her own time. Richard Dehmel’s poems were characterized by intense emotional power and strong descriptive elements. Finnish composer Jean Sibelius also set this text in 1906. See also the three other songs by Alma Mahler in this collection for more information Diestille Stade The que coun Liegt eine cade im Tale, Inthe ealey ies town, Ein baser Tag verche, Apole dy fades acy, Es wird nicht lang meh daver, Before log thee wil be Bis weder Mond noch Sern, Neither moo nor srs, "Nut Nacht sm Himmel tee (Only he ihe Von allen Bergen deicken From all he movin [Nebel auf die Stat, Fog cour the wu, Es ding kein Dach noch Hof noch Haus, Nate tof, nor couryerd, nor howe, Kein Lauc aus heer Rauch hers, ‘nosound ries fom the thick mis, XKaum Turme nach und Bracken Hay a sepl ora ride. Doch als der Wandrergaute, Bue asthe wanderer shivered, Dating ein Lichtlin aufim Grund Ali ig shed down below ‘Und aus dem Rauch und Nebel ‘And from the mis and fog Began ein Lobgesing ‘Asong of praise was head ‘Acs Kindermuna. From chien’ ps Andante ‘Triiumerisch(poco andante) a ei-neStadt im 7 <7 Y (Coptig © 2004 by HAL LEONARD CORPORATION Tmernaconal Cope Scare” AIRighs ReservedMm mp utempo las ser Tag. es wird nicht lang mehr atempo a tempo P Von al- len Ber - tempom2 sehr dringend = bel auf die es dringt kein Dach noch Hof noch Haus, kein b, Laut aus ih ~ rem Rauch her-aus, kaum Tur- me nach und Brii-cken, ibe, te PRS 2 2 ‘Wieder zurtickkehrend zu Tempo 13 6 ‘Tempo I steigernd ‘appassionato 2 Tempo Fy Sehr langsam morendo Sw i