Mahler’s “Erinnerung”: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Leonard Bernstein

Composed in the 1880s, prior to the First SymphonyErinnerung (“Remembrance”) is one of the early songs of Gustav Mahler. It is the second in a collection of fourteen Lieder und Gesänge (“Songs and Airs”) published in 1892. The text, by the German poet, Richard Leander (1830-1889), reflects on the intermingling of love and song.

Mahler’s setting is shrouded in dreamy melancholy and quiet anguish. The lamenting melody drifts over a hypnotic stream of triplets. One phrase anticipates the somber funeral march which opens Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. Interestingly, the song begins in F minor and concludes a whole step higher in G minor.

This 1972 recording features the German lyric baritone, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, accompanied by Leonard Bernstein:

Recordings

  • Mahler: Erinnerung, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Leonard Bernstein Amazon

About Timothy Judd

A native of Upstate New York, Timothy Judd has been a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section since 2001. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, studying with world renowned Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa.

The son of public school music educators, Timothy Judd began violin lessons at the age of four through Eastman’s Community Education Division. He was a student of Anastasia Jempelis, one of the earliest champions of the Suzuki method in the United States.

A passionate teacher, Mr. Judd has maintained a private violin studio in the Richmond area since 2002 and has been active coaching chamber music and numerous youth orchestra sectionals.

In his free time, Timothy Judd enjoys working out with Richmond’s popular SEAL Team Physical Training program.

Leave a Comment