Mahlers' Rückert-Lieder

Mahler's songs on texts by Friedrich Rückert date from the time when he met and married "the most beautiful girl in Vienna": Alma Schindler. The theme is love, life and farewells. The tone is slightly humorous, shy, hushed, tender and with subtle wordplay. Then Robert Schumann answers to the symphonic giant Beethoven. I made the sketches for this symphony when I was suffering psychologically. Yes, I can say that it seemed as if my mind was resisting and that I was trying to fight the resistance that was affecting the music in order to improve my condition. The first movement is full of that struggle and in character very moody and unruly.'