Vote for your absolute favourite Mahler Symphony!

[Brahmsian]

I was seriously considering voting for the Fourth. From being the one Mahler symphony I really didn't like (when I was young and ignorant) it has become the symphony I listen to most often...probably twice as often as its nearest competitor. And the Eighth? One of music's most awesome creations.

Sarge

Yes yes Sarge, well at least you came to your senses and voted for the 6th.  Too bad it wasn't a pick your 3 favorites, something a little more fair.   

[Brahmsian]

At least I wasn't as cruel as Daniel was in this thread.  I gave the option to choose 5 Shostakovich symphonies.   

[Sergeant Rock]

Yes yes Sarge, well at least you came to your senses and voted for the 6th.  Too bad it wasn't a pick your 3 favorites, something a little more fair.   

With three votes it would have been 4, 5, 6 for me...or 4, 6, 7 ....or 4, 6, 8 ...actually three votes would be as troublesome as one 

Sarge

[Brahmsian]

The 4th was at one time (when I first started listening to Mahler) my favorite or near favorite symphony of his.  Just over time, it seems underwhelming now, compared to his other symphonies.

[Opus106]

In fact, for vocal and choral works, I prefer foreign languange.  I cannot stomach and detest works sung in language I can understand.

I've been thinking about the same thing in the past few days, however I won't use such strong words to describe my feelings. Quirky or odd is how I feel about listening to, say, some Haendel.

[mc ukrneal]

I went for #7. It has become my favorite.  As to #8, why wouldn't it be high up. It is probably my second or third favorite for sure. Puts it in the top 3rd at least! 

[Drasko]

9th. On some days it can be 4th.

[madaboutmahler]

At least I wasn't as cruel as Daniel was in this thread.  I gave the option to choose 5 Shostakovich symphonies.   

I do apologize Ray! It brings more debate though if you can only pick one!
Daniel

[Brahmsian]

I do apologize Ray! It brings more debate though if you can only pick one!
Daniel

No problemo.

[DavidRoss]

I was seriously considering voting for the Fourth. From being the one Mahler symphony I really didn't like (when I was young and ignorant) it has become the symphony I listen to most often...probably twice as often as its nearest competitor.

This surprises me, Sarge...but I like it.  If not for the sheer beauty of Der Abschied, the 4th would probably have been my choice, though these days the 3rd has a powerful grip on my heart as well.  Others come close, but these have the best yodeling (along with the Urlicht).

[Brahmsian]

Today, I'd have to split my vote between the 6th and 7th as my favourite. 

[ibanezmonster]

9, 2, and 6 are the top three. Looks like I have some agreement here. 

[jochanaan]

The one I'm listening to now, or the one I listened to last.  Or whichever one my inner ear is hearing.

[marvinbrown]

  I went with symphony no. 5. The slow movements are hauntingly beautiful. Symphony no.8 is the worst....it's as if Mahler tried to compose an opera, failed then decided to call it a Symphony........for a thousand voices  . Yeah right!!

  marvin

[owlice]

The one I'm listening to now, or the one I listened to last.  Or whichever one my inner ear is hearing.

This!

[Cato]

This!

WOW!  OWLICE is big, bad, and back in action!

[Cato]

The one I'm listening to now, or the one I listened to last.  Or whichever one my inner ear is hearing.

This!

Amen!  I recently reveled in Das Lied von der Erde and the Ninth on DGG with Boulez conducting.

Probably I most often hear the purely instrumental ones, with #6, #9, and #10 receiving more attention, and #3 and #4 the least, but all the symphonies are worth visiting more than once a year!

[amw]

Hmm. I don't like any of the Mahler symphonies I've heard (I have recordings of 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and heard 1 in concert before) but if Das Lied counts I should probably vote for it, as when I last heard it (while analysing it in a music theory class, um, 10 years ago) I didn't think it was that bad.

That and Mahler's songs are pretty good (so far the Mahler disc I like best, of the 6 I've heard [lol], is Graham/Hampson/MTT/SFSO's disc of the songs with orchestra) and I'd be doing them a disservice if I just dismissed his entire output as rubbish

[jochanaan]

WOW!  OWLICE is big, bad, and back in action!

Whooooooo!

[The new erato]

Or whichever one my inner ear is hearing.

After listening to Mahler, I only hear ringing in my ears.