We listened to Mahler's Songs of the Earth (conducted by Otto Klemperer) on Saturday. We didn't really know what we were getting into, and the first couple of songs inspired lively discussion about the poetry, the musical themes, his inspiration (the songs are based on old Chinese poems, translated into the much more lyrical German). But the final song, "Der Abshied" (The Farewell), a twenty-nine minute piece for mezzo-soprano, we were totally silent and enthralled. It was a stunning piece of music--transcending all the pain and beauty and despair of the previous songs into grace and light and longing.
Because of the oriental influences, Mahler used elements of the pentatonic scale--which is a 5 note scale--the black keys on a piano, for reference. Most oriental music is uses the Pentatonic scale, whereas Western music typically uses the Dorian. However, the Pentatonic scale endures in folk music in almost all cultures. I don't know much about it, and am always meaning to research more, but it seems the pentatonic scale is the most fundamental scale for music.
Here's an amazing video where Bobby McFerrin explains the pentatonic scale, as only he can:
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