Gustav Mahler

In my opinion one of the most interesting composers to listen to. His second Symphony would definitely be in my top favorites by him

So what do you all think of him?

Chance to get time to listen to a complete symphony would be nice!

Chance to get time to listen to a complete symphony would be nice!

:D they are rather huge, but well worth it ;)

If you ask me, Symphony #8...Owned right on the spot.

I have never gotten attached to Mahler, to me he is just too long and boring to listen to.

His fifth symphony is well worth checking out. I particularly like the Adagietto.

His fifth symphony is well worth checking out. I particularly like the Adagietto.

I agree, that is a very good movement :D

Fifth symphony is a little long, even for Mahler. I love the first symphony. The fourth is very interesting too.

The symphony orchestra in my area does a mahler concerto every year... amazing.

Yes, that is pretty amazing.

Well, whether you like him or not, Mahler is required listening for serious composers. His pervasive influence on Western music is undeniable; he is an inextricable part of the musical tradition and influenced countless composers after him. If you don't like Mahler, that says something about you -- not necessarily a bad thing, but it probably has something to do with a short attention span and a refusal to let a work take its time in saying what it wants to say. If you don't like Mahler, you're probably the kind of person that likes short stories over novels. Still, the catharsis at the end of an hour-long Mahler symphony is like nothing else; it takes precisely that long to get there, to say it, and it couldn't be any other way.

Here's to Mahler's Third. From my days as a trombonist to now (when I haven't touched the trombone in years save to blast out my school's fight song when they won the Rose Bowl to taunt my University of Michigan neighbors) it's still my favorite.

I heard fifth is good, but never heard it. Didn't Mahler dedicate it to his beloved wife?

No, you just don't possess the capacity to understand it.

Whatever. Though, I suppose it could be true.:o

If you don't like Mahler, that says something about you -- not necessarily a bad thing, but it probably has something to do with a short attention span and a refusal to let a work take its time in saying what it wants to say.

I don't know about attention span...you need a decent span of time!

As it happens I have a remarkably short musical attention span so I wouldn't get past the first 8 bars of a Mahler symphony. I did try with the "Mad" but...hmmm.

:o

I reckon Mahler is more to do with people who like procedure and linearity - musicians who would not like puns or punch-lines so tend to have less of a sense of humour; less prone to insight.