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The University High School Band
The History and Theory of Music

Gustav Mahler

Standing on the far end of the Romantic Era, Mahler is often considered a bridge into the early modern period. During his lifetime, he worked primarily as a conductor, and only composed in his spare time.

Mahler's life was full of obstacles. He was born into a Jewish family in Bohemia, and despite moving to Vienna and converting to Catholicism, never fully escaped ethnic and religious discrimination. He married a young composer named Alma Schindler in 1901, but insisted she stop composing and simply support his efforts, which led to tensions in the marriage. Their eldest daughter, Maria, died in 1907 at the age of 5. Mahler was diagnosed with a severe heart condition later that year, and in 1910 learned that Alma had been cheating on him. He actually went to Sigmund Freud for therapy, and did a concert tour in New York, but died in Paris the following year.

Mahler is most famous for his nine epic symphonies. They are quintessentially Romantic... long, far-reaching works of enormous scale and variety, routinely calling for huge orchestras. His Eighth Symphony, for example, was billed as the "Symphony of a Thousand," written for 200 musicians an 800-piece choir.

Anti-Semitic discrimination continued after Mahler's death, and his work was banned in Germany during the Nazi era, but experienced a massive revival after World War II. His symphonies are now generally considered some of the finest works of musical literature ever composed.

Compositions

Symphony No. 2, finale

Symphony No. 5, opening

Das Lied von der Erde