Canon
Where to start with Mahler
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralSymphony no. 2 in C minor, "Resurrection"
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VocalDas Lied von der Erde — Symphony for alto, tenor and orchestra
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ChamberPiano Quartet in A minor
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OrchestralSymphony no. 5 in C sharp minor
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OrchestralSymphony no. 1 in D major, "Titan"
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VocalDes Knaben Wunderhorn — Song cycle
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VocalKindertotenlieder — Song cycle
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VocalRückert-Lieder — Song cycle
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OrchestralSymphony no. 6 in A minor
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OrchestralSymphony no. 8 in E flat major
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OrchestralSymphony no. 9 in D major
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OrchestralBlumine — Symphonic poem
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VocalDas himmlische Leben — Song for voice and orchestra
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VocalDas klagende Lied — Cantata
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VocalDrei Lieder — Songs
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Mahler's catalogueMost Popular
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Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor (Adagietto)
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Symphony No. 9 in D major
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Das Lied von der Erde
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Symphony No. 1 ”Titan”
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Kindertotenlieder (songs on dead children)
Most Acclaimed
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Symphony No. 6 ”Tragic”three hammer blows of fate
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Symphony No. 9
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Das Lied von der Erde
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Symphony No. 7 ”Song of the Night”
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Rückert Lieder
Most Weird
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Symphony No. 8 ”Symphony of a Thousand”requires 1000+ performers — soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass soloists, two choruses, children’s choir, orchestra
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Das Lied von der Erdetechnically a symphony but never called one — superstitious about Ninth Symphonies; it’s 80 minutes of goodbye
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Symphony No. 10 (unfinished)the completed Adagio is sublime; the Purgatorio is terrifying; sketches show what the rest would have been
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Symphony No. 3 in D minor90 minutes — includes solo alto, women’s chorus, boys’ choir; the first movement alone is 35 minutes
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Symphony No. 7 — Nachtmusik I and IIthe middle movements include mandolin and guitar — bizarre in a symphony
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 24
- Orchestral
- ● Symphony no. 2 in C minor, "Resurrection"
- ● Symphony no. 5 in C sharp minor
- ● Symphony no. 1 in D major, "Titan"
- Symphony no. 6 in A minor
- Symphony no. 8 in E flat major
- Symphony no. 9 in D major
- Blumine — Symphonic poem
- Symphony no. 10 in F sharp major
- Symphony no. 3 in D minor
- Symphony no. 4 in G major
- Symphony no. 7 in E minor
- Totenfeier — Symphonic poem
- Vocal
- Das Lied von der Erde — Symphony for alto, tenor and orchestra
- Des Knaben Wunderhorn — Song cycle
- Kindertotenlieder — Song cycle
- Rückert-Lieder — Song cycle
- Das himmlische Leben — Song for voice and orchestra
- Das klagende Lied — Cantata
- Drei Lieder — Songs
- Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen — Song cycle
- Lieder und Gesänge, vol. 1 — Songs
- Lieder und Gesänge, vol. 2 — Songs
- Lieder und Gesänge, vol. 3 — Songs
- Chamber
- Piano Quartet in A minor