Gustav Mahler composed his 'Wunderhornlieder' (Songs from the Youth's Magic Horn) between 1892 and 1901. Just half of the 'Wunderhornlieder' have military subjects but beside those there are songs with humoristic or ironic elements sometimes resulting in strange or funny sound effects and songs (often lovesongs) which are primarily lyrical in tone. All songs have in common very typical contrasts by sudden change of atmosphere and an orchestration that combines unusually fine subtlety with a great range of colours. 'Das irdische Leben' is one of the ironic 'Wunderhornlieder'.