1. Gustav Mahler
Eighth symphony

2. Biography Gustav Mahler Born July 7, 1860 in Kalischt, Bohemia Jewish
Parents had 12 children, only 6 survived childhood
Taught himself piano at the age of 4
First performance at 10
14 years old when he began his first composition, inspired by the death of his brother
Herzog Ernst von Schwaben (Duke Ernest of Swabia)

3. Biography cont. Attended two music schools
New Town Gymnasium – Was unhappy there so returned after a short time.
Vienna Conservatory – Graduated from here in 1878
Anton Bruckner was professor here, although he never was his teacher, he attended many of his lectures
Made a living as a piano teacher for a short time
Composed Das klagende Lied (The Song of Lamentation) during this time, 1880
Preferred to compose in summer composition shacks

4. Biography First – 1888 Second – Between 1888 and 1894 Third – 1896
Fourth – 1900
Fifth, Sixth & Seventh – 1901 to 1905
Eighth – 1906
Ninth – 1908
Tenth – Began working on it in 1910, incomplete

5. Eighth Symphony Written in only 8 weeks in 1906 Inspired by a hymn
Wrote the music for the hymn without having the words
When he received the words, and added them to the music, it all fit perfectly as if inspired by God
One of the greatest classical works of all time
Written to be performed with symphony and choir
2 choirs, children’s choir, violas, cellos, double basses, piccolos, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, tuba, trumpets, trombones, timpani, cymbals, bass drum, tamtam, triangle, organ, harmonium, piano, harps, mandolins, bells

6. Eighth Symphony Debuted in 1918
Gustav Mahler’s last work that premiered in his lifetime
Immediate success with encore performance the next night
Taken across Europe for 20 more performances
1916 debuted in the US
1918 debuted in Vienna

7. Listening Guide TRACK 1 0:00 Introduction
0:00 Introduction
First two cords from the organ, preparing the listener for the power that is soon to follow
0:04 Chorus Intro – Chorus
Two choirs, all parts, 1st and 2nd, Soprano, Alto, Tenor Bass
0:08 Percussion and Horns
Echoing the familiar phrase throughout the entire symphony
0:13 Stings enter
Adds to the foreshadowing chaos that will happen
0:17 Men’s voices only
Overlapping the women, the men echo the pattern of the women vocals
0:25 Women overlap
Overlapping the men with the echo, as they build up the battle and intensity
0:38 Stings and men
String orchestra pushes through with the men vocals and still build on the energy
1:12 Begin to resolve
All instruments begin to hold notes longer and slowly the volume backs down to p

8. Listening Guide TRACK 2 0:00 Track 2 Intro – Verse 1
0:00 Track 2 Intro – Verse 1
Soprano vocalist with string accompaniment, Tenor softly heard under her
0:18 Building
Alto and Baritone join other vocalists
0:37 Strings
Strings overtake the vocals with a familiar rhythm
1:03 Verse 2 cont.
Choir echoes the verse from the vocalists, p, with some soft horns
1:22 Verse 2 cont.
Haunting vocal from soprano
1:33 Verse 2 cont.
Choir echoes again, p
1:45 Soloists
Begin with a confused harmony as the tempo picks up a little, with strings and horns
1:55 Strings
Picking up the tempo a little more still
2:00
Tenor with Strings on top, a hint of chaos
2:25 Break
All instruments but vocals drop out
2:36 Strings
Strings start back in with more vocals
2:59 Tempo
Tempo seems to double with cutting spurts from violins
3:07 Chorus
Chorus begins with all vocals joining the strings, horns and soloists, building intensity
3:38 Percussion
Percussion hits to inspire horns powering through
3:55 Flutes
Chaos begins on the top with flutes
4:00 Gong
Begins the gong to give the impression of time and music quiets to ppp

9. Listening Guide TRACK 3 0:04 Verse 3 - Haunting
0:04 Verse 3 - Haunting
Ppp men’s choir begins so gently with gong and violins
0:24 Verse 3
Women join the men with a single violin piercing and confusing over the vocals
0:42 Vocals take over
Soothingly the vocals move slowly and begin to soar higher, soprano and mezzo soprano
0:57 Resolve
A short lived resolution comes here
1:05 Confusion
Start back with confusion using vocals and strings
1:21 Choir
Choir echoes soloists with strings played over
1:40 Building
Enter the horns with sharper vocals, building, ff
1:54 End of Verse 3
All instruments cut off together, break in all music
1:58 Horns section-Verse 4
Horns begin the 3rd verse with a new melody and new feeling
2:12 Chimes
Begin to gong with the instruments as if to keep time for what seems a sporadic rhythm
2:46 Violin and Flute
Strings are plucked and short spats from a flute
3:10 “
Smooth violins and gentle flute take us down to a smoother rhythm
3:25 Verse 5
Heavy bass enters to begin another chaotic verse
3:47 Tenor
Tenor starts this next movement of voices with strings and flutes
4:19 End of sound
But only for a moment, as we have a chance to breath
4:20 Verse 5 cont.
Strings and all soloists compete with the melodies
4:51 Strings and Alto
Are in unison to take our focus, slow tempo
5:00 Tenor
Tenor in harmony with alto, soothing and calm with the strings then flute
5:22 Vocalists
Join in to compete with each other, alto and strings in unison
6:01 Horns
Horns begin when Tenor stops again to warn us of something powerful coming

10. Listening Guide TRACK 4 0:00 Chorus
0:00 Chorus
Horns pierce through with familiar chorus and strings are chaotic, tempo picks up
0:20 Chorus
Choirs join with the familiar chanting, ff
0:43 Children’s choir
First time we hear the children’s choir
1:01 Hook
Begins the horns on a new pattern, which we hear later in the piece
1:12 Orgen
Punches through with the choirs, horns and strings, everything is very confusing and tempo has a pretty fast speed
1:45 Verse 6
Men begin on a new pattern, still chaotic and fast with all instruments
2:21 Soprano
Soprano soars over with the orgon, powerfully, with one choir singing p under
2:30 Verse 6 cont.
All instruments join again, very chaotic, fast past
3:00
New pattern begins again
3:09 Strong soloists and horns
Slower tempo, different rhythm
3:19 Hook
Choirs begin to battle again
3:47 Children
Start singing through to add to the chaos
3:59 Symbols
Crashing symbols, pushing though at the hight of the excitement of the music, all instruments, fast tempo
4:32 Tempo
We begin to hear the resolution again, and the instruments move to harmonize once more instead of conflicting each other.