James Cooke
@jcooke0909.bsky.social
Postgraduate choral musician researching lied arrangements. Associate lecturer with The Open University in physics and stats. Interested in psychoanalysis. Occasionally a civil servant, sometimes a research ethicist, often a conductor, always a nuisance.
Alma has been a fascinating character to journey with the last few months as I've been thinking about this topic. Biographies of her have tended to objectify her, revisionist scholarship has then denied her agency.
I don't know if I've struck the right balance, but I hope to spark a discussion.
I don't know if I've struck the right balance, but I hope to spark a discussion.
August 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Alma has been a fascinating character to journey with the last few months as I've been thinking about this topic. Biographies of her have tended to objectify her, revisionist scholarship has then denied her agency.
I don't know if I've struck the right balance, but I hope to spark a discussion.
I don't know if I've struck the right balance, but I hope to spark a discussion.
This neglects the fact that the social circumstances which mean that Alma's work have survived and have continued to attract attention is one enmeshed in her privilege.
August 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This neglects the fact that the social circumstances which mean that Alma's work have survived and have continued to attract attention is one enmeshed in her privilege.
Alma's compositional output was promising juvenilia, but nevertheless minor works. By transforming these songs into orchestral a genre defined by Gustav - the man who killed her creative urge - are we inviting unfair comparisons? Are we unduly projecting these minor works onto the expansive canvas?
August 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Alma's compositional output was promising juvenilia, but nevertheless minor works. By transforming these songs into orchestral a genre defined by Gustav - the man who killed her creative urge - are we inviting unfair comparisons? Are we unduly projecting these minor works onto the expansive canvas?
- Alma reorchestrated: When her work has been transcribed, it is often by dedicated Mahlerists. When her work is performed, it is often preceding one of her husband's symphonies.
Therefore, I'll conclude by questioning the ethics of including orchestrations of her lied in programmes.
Therefore, I'll conclude by questioning the ethics of including orchestrations of her lied in programmes.
August 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
- Alma reorchestrated: When her work has been transcribed, it is often by dedicated Mahlerists. When her work is performed, it is often preceding one of her husband's symphonies.
Therefore, I'll conclude by questioning the ethics of including orchestrations of her lied in programmes.
Therefore, I'll conclude by questioning the ethics of including orchestrations of her lied in programmes.
My paper on Alma Mahler and ethics of re-orchestration will cover:
- Alma's reception history: Alma fetishised and Alma problematised.
- Alma's interest in large scale form. While only 17 songs survive, there are 3 distinct sets, some of which have properties we'd associate with song cycles.
- Alma's reception history: Alma fetishised and Alma problematised.
- Alma's interest in large scale form. While only 17 songs survive, there are 3 distinct sets, some of which have properties we'd associate with song cycles.
August 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
My paper on Alma Mahler and ethics of re-orchestration will cover:
- Alma's reception history: Alma fetishised and Alma problematised.
- Alma's interest in large scale form. While only 17 songs survive, there are 3 distinct sets, some of which have properties we'd associate with song cycles.
- Alma's reception history: Alma fetishised and Alma problematised.
- Alma's interest in large scale form. While only 17 songs survive, there are 3 distinct sets, some of which have properties we'd associate with song cycles.