In the musical literature Gustav Mahler is considered a representative of late romanticism and a great symphony composer at the break of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, who opened an imaginary gateway to the twentieth century. The cornerstones of his works are his nine completed symphonies, and his vocal-symphonic composition The Song of the Earth and a number of song cycles. It is paradoxical that, although he dedicated his whole life to conducting operas, he never wrote (ironically it could be stated that it was for this very reason) any operatic works (with the exception of unpreserved experiments of youth).
Gustav Mahler began his creations at an early age. Probably in 1866 he composed Polka for Piano as a “job” for his mother and the song Turks Have Beautiful Daughters (Die Türken haben schöne Töchter) as an “order“ for his father. In the summer of 1875 in Jihlava the idea of writing an opera, Ernest, Duke of Swabia (Herzog Ernst von Schwaben) on a text by his classmate, Josef Steiner, was born. Shortly before the work’s origin Gustav Mahler’s brother Ernst had died – thus it is possible that the choice of theme reflected his brother’s death. His second opera project, which was not preserved either, was the opera Argonauts (Die Argonauten 1877–78), on a text by Gustav Mahler and Josef Steiner according to Franz Grillparzer. His opera Krakonoš (Rübezahl 1879–1883) also remained uncompleted and unpreserved.
In 1876 Gustav Mahler won the 1st prize in the field of musical composition at the Vienna Conservatory for the first movement of his Piano Quartet. This could have involved his Piano Quartet in A minor, which was created in Vienna in 1876. This is the work which he probably also presented in his Jihlava concert on September 12, 1876. In a successful concert in Jihlava on July 31, 1876, he introduced another of his works, Sonata for Violin and Piano.
Mahler himself called the symphony "Titan" although later he distanced himself from this name. The name of "Titan" could refer to a novel by Jean Paul, however, this has not been proven for sure.
It was performed for the first time in Budapest on November 20, 1889, conducted by the composer.
Text: Ludwig Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano "Urlicht"; from the collection of The Youth’s Magic Horn; Friedrich Klopstock "Die Auferstehung," re-worked by Gustav Mahler.
First introduction: Berlin, December 13, 1895, conducted by the composer.
Text: Friedrich Nietzsche, the author of, among other works, Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None; Ludwig Achim von Armin and Clemens Brentano from the collection of The Youth’s Magic Horn.
First introduction: Krefeld, June 9, 1902, conducted by the composer.
Text: Ludwig Achim von Armin and Clemens Brentano from the collection of The Youth’s Magic Horn.
First introduction: Munich, November 25, conducted by the composer.
First introduction: Cologne, October 18, 1904, conducted by the composer.
First introduction: Essen, May 27, 1906, conducted by the composer.
First introduction: Prague, September 19, 1908, conducted by the composer
In 1908 the Jubilee Exhibition of the Prague Chamber of Commerce and Industry took place in Prague from May to September, which celebrated 60 years of rule by the Emperor Franz Joseph I. In connection with the Jubilee Exhibition, Mahler visited Prague in May 1908, when he conducted the fi rst philharmonic concert of the Exhibition Orchestra on May 23. Based on all the hitherto available data in literature and preserved correspondence it was probably there, after this concert of May 23, that the idea of introducing the world premiere of the Seventh Symphony in the last philharmonic concert of the Jubilee Exhibition originated. For sure two facts were at play. First, it had to be the satisfaction of the composer, and at the same time the conductor with the local orchestra, and second, it was the prestige of the whole Jubilee Exhibition in Prague. The symphony’s premiere was performed on Saturday, September 19, at 7:00 PM. Thus Prague, the Jubilee Exhibition, and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra as a part of the Exhibition Orchestra went down in musical history
(In: ŠTILEC, J.: World premiere of Seventh Symphony by Gustav Mahler. Rudolfinum Revue VIII/1 2008/2009).
Text: Part I: Rabanus Maurus Magnentius, hymn Veni creator spiritus. Part II: Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Faust, The Second Part of the Tragedy.
First introduction: Munich, September 12, 1910 conducted by the composer.
The symphony has the nickname, "Symphony of a Thousand," but the moniker did not originate from Mahler. This name was given to the symphony by the concert organizer, Emil Gutman, since a great many musicians are required for the performance. Mahler dedicated the symphony to his wife Alma Mahler. The first introduction of the symphony, the same as the introductions on the following days, was very successful. Symphony No. 8 is also the last one introduced by Mahler himself during his life.
Two works that Mahler was still working on were presented to the public only after his death.
Text: Hans Bethge, Chinese Flute, recast Chinese poems.
First introduction: Munich, November 20, 1911, conducted by Bruno Walter.
First introduction: Vienna, June 26, 1912, conducted by Bruno Walter.
First movement Adagio and third movement Purgatorio were introduced: Vienna, October 12, 1912, conducted by Franz Schalk
Gustav Mahler’s text is based on the "Song of Lamentation" fairy tale by Ludwig Bechstein.
First introduction: Vienna, February 17, 1901 (in reworked version without the first part) conducted by the composer.
Text: Gustav Mahler
Text: Richard Leander, Gustav Mahler, Tirso de Molina.
Text: Gustav Mahler
Five songs, four plus one with a version for piano and a version for orchestra, by the composer.
Five songs for mezzo-soprano/baritone and orchestra. A version for voice and piano also exists.
Text: Friedrich Rückert
