Some Words About Mahler

A reader named David Eric wrote:

"Beethoven's 9th is easily the greatest piece of music I have ever heard in my life, period. I really love the form and length of symphonies. Can you tell me (and I know this is highly subjective) of another symphony that is on that level of genius, outside of the 9 Beethoven symphonies? I'm basically looking for the truly seminal symphonies and works. The other thing I wanted to ask is where to start with Mahler."

Like Beethoven, Mahler often incorporated the human voice in his symphonies to expand the range of the experience beyond the purely instrumental. Unlike Brahms & Schubert there is little reaching back to roots in the classical period with Mahler so his music can sound overwrought (and in some cases over-long!) on first acquaintance. Personally I think he's the greatest 19th Century symphonist after Beethoven.

I recommend starting in Mahler's middle period with the Fourth & Fifth symphonies. The First is also very accessible. The Sixth is the high point of this middle period and is, in my view, one of these "seminal" works of which you speak. Only the Ninth exceeds the Sixth in profundity - that magic number again! This can, I feel, truly hold its head up in the most exulted of company.

My personal view is that the remaining symphonies are best tackled after getting a feel for Mahler's language and breadth of expression. My personal prejudice is that he was less than fully successful at integrating the choral and orchestral elements, so I'm less enthusiastic about his Second and Eighth symphonies than many Mahlerians.

The Seventh is instrumental, but perhaps rather over-extended; that said the second Nachtmusik movement (fourth of five movements in this symphony) is a truly delightful piece that I think could stand alone. "Das Lied von der Erde" is usually accounted among the symphonies and is a fine work that's more in the orchestral song-cycle mould than a symphony in the classical sense. The adagio from the unfinished Tenth is quite beautiful, but the various completions by other hands of the remaining movements are for the committed Mahlerian I think.

That's a lot about Mahler but I think it's useful because he's not an easy composer to approach for the first time and yet there is a great deal of truly sublime music to be experienced within his symphonies. I strongly recommend you to have a try and see if you can acquire the taste.

As always, I'd love to know what you think: is this a helpful intro? is it completely wrong-headed? is Mahler God incarnate, utterly irrelevant, the devil incarnate? Whatever you think, please let me know! Drop me a line at nighwol@ntlworld.com or put a comment in my guest-book, Thanks!