Poll
Question:
Who wrote better songs: Mahler or Strauss?
Option 1: Gustav Mahler
votes: 9
Option 2: Richard Strauss
votes: 3
Between these roughly contemporary titans of Austro-Germanic late-or-post-Romantic music, which one, in your own estimation, wrote the better songs?
I greatly prefer Mahler but that doesn't mean his songs are better than Strauss songs, just more to my taste.
Strauss, Im Abendrot
Hard to decide. Most songs by Strauss are for female voice (soprano), while Mahler wrote for a low (often baritone) voice. Both wrote some immortal masterpieces. Strauss' Four Last Songs is my favourite work from their combined output.
Der Abschied. Guess who I voted for? ;D
It seems people tend to like one composer or the other. I've had two composition teachers: one loved Mahler and disliked Strauss, the other loved Strauss and was suspicious of Mahler.
I'm not saying which of the two I prefer. Leave it to others to guess...
I want to see an option for Alma Mahler, too.
She wrote some seriously lovely songs. You know, before Gustav went all white male on her. :)
Even discounting the lied-symphony "Das Lied von der Erde" I have to vote for Mahler. I must have about 3 discs with assorted Strauss' Lieder but I only remember the four last and "Morgen".