Lob des hohen Verstands from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (4 Tpts, Flugel, 4 Hns, 3 Trbs, Tuba, Timps, Percussion)

Lob des hohen Verstands from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (4 Tpts, Flugel, 4 Hns, 3 Trbs, Tuba, Timps, Percussion) (Programme note: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Youths Magic Horn) is a collection of German folk poems published in 1805-8. Mahlers numerous settings of these poems are scattered around his catalogue: some for voice and piano, some with orchestral accompanimiment and some of which he used as movements in his symphonies. The first 9 were written in 1887 and make up Volumes 2 and 3 of his voice and piano collections. 12 more were published in 1899, originally as Humeresque, conceived with orchestral accompaniment. Urlicht and Es sungen drei Engel were replaced in 1901 by 2 new songs after Mahler had incorporated the earlier songs into his 2nd and 3rd symphonies. Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt and Ablösung im Sommer were also included in the 2nd and 3rd symphonies as instrumental movements. Lob des hohen Verstands (Praise of Lofty Intellect) is number 10 of the Humoresken collection and provides one of the lighter moments of the collection. The tale is of an argument between the cuckoo and the nightingale concerning which is the better singer. A donkey is chosen to judge on account of the size of his ears. He finds the nightingales song wanting but appreciates the cuckoos for being well in time. The donkey pronounces that the cuckoo is the winner. Performance note: This can be performed as an instrumental item or with voice. If a vocal version is performed it may be necessary to tacet some lines that double the voice at the performers discretion. These lines are marked as leading voice. Play with considerable rhythmic character and personality but keep the dynamics under control.)