Gustav Mahler/David Rain: "Ging heut' morgen über's Feld" (SATB div.)

As a lifelong Gustav Mahler fan, when I began my "late in life" choral composing in my mid-60s, I knew one day I'd have to tackle one of Mahler's songs.
And now, in my early 70s, I 'm excited to share my choral arrangement of one of Mahler's most beautiful creations -- "Ging heut' morgen über's Feld" -- from his song cycle "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" (Songs of a Wayfarer) -- which later became the opening theme of Mahler's 1st Symphony.
"Ging heut' morgen über's Feld" is dedicated to my friend Elizabeth Gluckstal. Sincere thanks go to the Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir for this spectacular recording which has been lightly edited.
For song info or sheet music , please visit: davidrainchora....
And for choirs that might prefer to sing a happy ending to this song, I have created an alternate arrangement that leaves out the not-so-happy coda of the original song: • Gustav Mahler/David Ra... .
I would also like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sang in for 28 years, The Stairwell Carollers, and director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration.
And with deep appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their invaluable support throughout my composing journey.

[@DavidRainChoralComposer]

For choirs interested in singing this song, sheet music is now available at: musicspoke.com/downloads/ging-heut-morgen-übers-feld/.

[@KlausMiehling]

The "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" are my favorite Mahler songs. I enjoyed listening to this version, though I would avoid senseless text abbreviations like at the beginning "über's Ging", and numerous other cases.
Please note that it must read "Tau noch auf" (p. 1) , and "Glockenblum'" (b. 31) is one word.

[@DavidRainChoralComposer]

Thank you for your comments Klaus. You have pointed out one of the central decision points in doing an a cappella arrangement of this song. As we know, there are long passages of piano or orchestra where no voices are heard. We could abandon the project entirely, and just do a choral arrangement with piano or orchestra. If we do decide, however, to explore an a cappella arrangement, an obvious option exists to use nonsense syllables in the gaps. And this was indeed explored by me, but I was not satisfied with the result. When I added Mahler's words within the piano/orchestral passages, however, it felt much better, at least to me. It is a matter of aesthetics, and I don't reject your comment at all. If another composer decides to explore a nonsense syllable option, I would be most interested to hear the result. Thanks again, David

[@KlausMiehling]

@@DavidRainChoralComposer I wouldn't favour a nonsens syllable version at all. But, for example, in the case at the beginning I mentioned, the Tenor might sing "über's Feld, heut' morgen".

[@DavidRainChoralComposer]

@@KlausMiehling I understand better now, thank you. And that is indeed another option that has value. I will be interested if German speaking choirs decide to sing this in concert, as I am always open to feedback from that "live singing" experience, and open to revisions, which of course Mahler was famous for too....

[@KlausMiehling]

@@DavidRainChoralComposer How did you produce this recording?

[@DavidRainChoralComposer]

@@KlausMiehling This was sung by the @RockyMountainChamberChoir. They are incredible singers, as you can hear with the Mahler song, as well as the spectacular recording they made of my a cappella arrangement of Beethoven's "Heiliger Dankgesang" movement: ruclips.net/video/tKwKwWyEy_4/видео.html.