There's such a struggle going on in me! And a miserable longing for someone who thinks OF ME, who helps me to find MYSELF! I've sunk the level of a housekeeper!
Alma Mahler, Daily Rituals
Gustav Mahler is a well-known composer and conductor. His work is performed by orchestras around the world and his wife helped make that possible. Alma made sure no sound would disturb Mahler in his working hours. She would stop playing the piano. She shushed up neighbors with promises of opera tickets, so they would keep their dogs indoors. She would accompany the composer on long walks by the shore. Before marrying Mahler, however, Alma was a composer in her own right.
According to Currey, Mahler made her give up composition because "there could only be one composer in the family." This is no model for creative partnership at all, but I write it down to show that situations like this happen and I'm sure we'd all rather avoid it.
Post a Comment