Mahler, Gustav (1860-1911), was a Bohemian-born composer of the romantic period. He completed nine symphonies and died before completing a 10th. He also composed numerous songs, many with orchestral accompaniment. Much of Mahler’s music has a religious or philosophical basis. The early works often describe nature, and the later ones describe the struggles and triumphs of the soul. There is a note of sadness and resignation in many of his works. See Classical music (The Romantic era).
Loading the player...Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler
Mahler’s symphonies are large-scale works that try to include every human emotion. They employ a large orchestra, and four of them (Numbers 2, 3, 4, and 8) use voices. Although Mahler wrote for a large orchestra, he often used it very delicately. Mahler’s songs are more intimate in style. They include Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children, 1905) and Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth, 1911).
Loading the player...Symphony No. 6
Mahler was born on July 7, 1860, in Kaliste, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). He studied at the Vienna Conservatory from 1875 to 1878. Mahler spent virtually his whole career as an opera and orchestra conductor. He worked his way up from small conducting jobs to the most prestigious positions in the music world. He directed the Vienna Court Opera from 1897 to 1907. After resigning this post, he visited the United States four times to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Metropolitan Opera. Mahler died on May 18, 1911.
