Joseph Wheeler (musicologist)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Hugh Wheeler was a British
musician
and musicologist.
A civil servant by profession, Wheeler's most famous work was his realisation of Gustav Mahler
's Tenth Symphony
which he began in 1952 and took him some thirteen years to complete.
Wheeler was born in Bromley
, England
, the son of a professional brass band player. Wheeler had similar musical abilities, becoming a founder member of the Guild of Gentlemen Trumpeters. After completing his National Service
with the RAF
in 1948, Wheeler's consuming interest in Mahler and the championing of the unfinished Tenth by fellow enthusiast Jack Diether in the USA led him to begin work on the score, unaware that another musicologist, Deryck Cooke
, was tackling the same project.
Although Cooke's performing version is by far the most familiar, many (including fellow 'completer' Remo Mazzetti Jr.) regard Wheeler's version as closest in texture to the more leanly orchestrated works Mahler was composing towards the end of his life. Unsurprisingly in Wheeler's version the brass features more heavily than in any other realisation. However what cannot be doubted is that Wheeler's is the least speculative of all versions and hence can be regarded as a snapshot of a work-in-progress rather than an attempt at a 'completion'.
Wheeler's caution led him to complete two working versions of the score, neither of which saw the light of day in performance. On 26 May 1965 Arthur Bloom premiered the first completed version of Wheeler's work with the Caecilian Symphony Orchestra. This was the third version, which he had completed in 1955. Wheeler made further changes to his work, and his final, fourth complete score was performed in New York
by Jonel Perlea with the Manhattan School of Music
Orchestra in November 1966.
Wheeler's fourth revision is the basis of American conductor Robert Olson
's edition, in which he corrected and deciphered some of the inconsistencies in Wheeler's manuscript.
Olson has since recorded Wheeler's version twice: with the Colorado MahlerFest
Orchestra and again with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and musicologist.
A civil servant by profession, Wheeler's most famous work was his realisation of Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
's Tenth Symphony
Symphony No. 10 (Mahler)
The Symphony No. 10 by Gustav Mahler was written in the summer of 1910, and was his final composition. At the time of Mahler's death the composition was substantially complete in the form of a continuous draft; but not being fully elaborated at every point, and mostly not orchestrated, it was not...
which he began in 1952 and took him some thirteen years to complete.
Wheeler was born in Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of a professional brass band player. Wheeler had similar musical abilities, becoming a founder member of the Guild of Gentlemen Trumpeters. After completing his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1948, Wheeler's consuming interest in Mahler and the championing of the unfinished Tenth by fellow enthusiast Jack Diether in the USA led him to begin work on the score, unaware that another musicologist, Deryck Cooke
Deryck Cooke
Deryck Cooke was a British musician, musicologist and broadcaster.-Life:Cooke was born in Leicester to a poor and working class family; his father died when he was a child, but his mother was able to afford piano lessons. Cooke acquired a brilliant technique and began to compose...
, was tackling the same project.
Although Cooke's performing version is by far the most familiar, many (including fellow 'completer' Remo Mazzetti Jr.) regard Wheeler's version as closest in texture to the more leanly orchestrated works Mahler was composing towards the end of his life. Unsurprisingly in Wheeler's version the brass features more heavily than in any other realisation. However what cannot be doubted is that Wheeler's is the least speculative of all versions and hence can be regarded as a snapshot of a work-in-progress rather than an attempt at a 'completion'.
Wheeler's caution led him to complete two working versions of the score, neither of which saw the light of day in performance. On 26 May 1965 Arthur Bloom premiered the first completed version of Wheeler's work with the Caecilian Symphony Orchestra. This was the third version, which he had completed in 1955. Wheeler made further changes to his work, and his final, fourth complete score was performed in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
by Jonel Perlea with the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
Orchestra in November 1966.
Wheeler's fourth revision is the basis of American conductor Robert Olson
Robert Olson
Robert "Rob" S. Olson is a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 23rd district. He was previously a Representative in the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 26th district from 2005 to 2010, having served as the Majority Whip...
's edition, in which he corrected and deciphered some of the inconsistencies in Wheeler's manuscript.
Olson has since recorded Wheeler's version twice: with the Colorado MahlerFest
Colorado MahlerFest
Colorado MahlerFest is an annual event held in Boulder, Colorado, which each year celebrates one major symphonic work by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler...
Orchestra and again with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.