Favorite Mahler Symphony?

[kyjo]

I'm really surprised there hasn't already been a poll on this topic! Well, my vote goes for no. 2. It's quite possibly my favorite symphony and one of my favorite pieces of classical music Each movement is so contrasted and the whole piece has that immensely satisfying "darkness to light" journey. I die and go to heaven every time I listen to that ending!

[Mirror Image]

Easy pick for me: Symphony No. 7. Here's why I picked it (as I wrote on another forum):

There's something different about his 7th. Many complain about the finale being too 'joyous' but I think this is musical irony at it's best (think of the type of feeling in the last movement of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5). There is something incredible distraught and downright eerie about this particular symphony. The Scherzo reminds of a person on horseback with a latern riding through a haunted graveyard with some caskets that have been dug up and the skeletons are just lying around. Such a morbid movement and the rest of the symphony has a similar type of feeling throughout. You get the feeling that Mahler's mind was slipping a bit during writing this symphony.

[kyjo]

Easy pick for me: Symphony No. 7. Here's why I picked it (as I wrote on another forum):

There's something different about his 7th. Many complain about the finale being too 'joyous' but I think this is musical irony at it's best (think of the type of feeling in the last movement of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5). There is something incredible distraught and downright eerie about this particular symphony. The Scherzo reminds of a person on horseback with a latern riding through a haunted graveyard with some caskets that have been dug up and the skeletons are just lying around. Such a morbid movement and the rest of the symphony has a similar type of feeling throughout. You get the feeling that Mahler's mind was slipping a bit during writing this symphony.

Yeah, I think the Seventh is really underrated. I never see it on concert programs! Each movement of this work, except for the magically beautiful Nachtmusik II, has something very unsettling beneath the surface. Shostakovich was definitely inspired by this symphony!

[Mirror Image]

Yeah, I think the Seventh is really underrated. I never see it on concert programs! Each movement of this work, except for the magically beautiful Nachtmusik II, has something very unsettling beneath the surface. Shostakovich was definitely inspired by this symphony!

I think it's Mahler's finest symphony, but we all have our favorites which this poll will reveal in time. As for Shostakovich being inspired by this symphony, I'm sure he was! The whole eerie atmosphere of this work leaves me perplexed but at the same time it leaves a smile on my face. Pure genius.

[kishnevi]

Favorite Mahler Symphony?
The First, I suppose. Unless it's the Second. Or maybe the Third.  No, the Fourth.....

.......I think you get my point.

I can't tell which,  The Second is the one which I get the most enjoyment from hearing,  but I get different things from all of them,  and I wouldn't want to be without any of them.  (Nor DLvdE, although you didn't put that in the options.)

I suppose the only objective factor--how many different recordings of each work I have--would say it's either the Second or the Ninth, since I have about thirty five recordings for each of them.

[kyjo]

I know it can be difficult, Jeffrey. Have you decided on your favorite yet?

[Mirror Image]

Have you decided on your favorite yet?

Let's ask Daniel (MadaboutMahler) this question and see what he says and how many times he changes his mind.

[DavidW]

The ninth for me.

[Karl Henning]

The ninth for me.

Ditto.

[TheGSMoeller]

20 years ago = 3rd
10 years ago = 9th
Today = 7th

7th got my vote, my tastes or rather preferences in Mahler have changed throughout the years, still all fine, but the enigma of the 7th captures my imagination unlike any of the others these days.

Although my continuing interest in choral/vocal has the 4th and especially the 8th building steam, the second part of the 8th is magic, endlessly expressive, a shame it took me so long to enjoy it this much.
Must have been the 8th by Boulez on DG that did the trick. 

[Opus106]

I'm really surprised there hasn't already been a poll on this topic!

Seriously? GMG doesn't have a poll on Mahler symphonies?!

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic=19217.0
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?topic=17824.0 (Poll or no poll, everyone will eventually name everything that there is to name.)

And these probably were the seven-hundred-and-twentieth and seven-hundred-and-twenty-first times that this topic has cropped up, in one way or another.


*Goes off to post links in the "What's in your head?" thread*

[Karl Henning]

That means that the surprise is well founded! 

[Opus106]

That means that the surprise is well founded! 

Or maybe the Search function is disabled.

[Sergeant Rock]

Seriously? GMG doesn't have a poll on Mahler symphonies?!

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic=19217.0
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?topic=17824.0 (Poll or no poll, everyone will eventually name everything that there is to name.)

And these probably were the seven-hundred-and-twentieth and seven-hundred-and-twenty-first times that this topic has cropped up, in one way or another.

We can't have too many Mahler polls. We can always use another.

My vote, as always, is the A minor. Cowbells! Hammers! Relentless Fate!

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Fate decided to relent, after all . . . .

[Opus106]

My vote, as always, is the A minor. Cowbells! Hammers! Relentless Fate!

Sarge

In SA or AS format? (The details are important, you know, for the aliens to track the trend of preferences when they go through all the polls. )

[Sergeant Rock]

In SA or AS format? (The details are important, you know, for the aliens to track the trend of preferences when they go through all the polls. )

SA! AS is an abomination! Gustav should never have fiddled with his original thoughts. (And three hammerblows, please.)

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

In SA or AS format? (The details are important, you know, for the aliens to track the trend of preferences when they go through all the polls. )

And remember, this is for posterity so be honest.

[springrite]

I reluctantly decided on 9 as my other choice, 7, is pulling me hard the other way...

[kyjo]

Or maybe the Search function is disabled.

I went through all seven pages of polls to make sure there were no polls already on this topic Like Sarge says, we could always use another Mahler poll BTW I'm really surprised no one has voted for no. 5 yet!