Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia NOSPR
Gustav Mahler
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Composition History
Mahler worked on his Sixth Symphony during the summers of 1903 and 1904 at a villa he had built at Maiernigg on the Worthersee.
Composer's Artistic Vision
According to Alma Mahler, the last movement of the symphony described the composer's own downfall or that of his hero, with three blows of Fate, the last of which was later omitted.
Composition History
Mahler composed the majority of his music, including his ten symphonies and the monumental 'Das Lied von der Erde', during summer holidays away from his conducting duties at the opera-house.
Composer Biography
Gustav Mahler, the composer, saw himself as "three times homeless": a native of Bohemia in Austria, an Austrian among Germans, and a Jew throughout the whole world.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Alma Mahler, the composer's wife, stated that Mahler told her the second subject of the first movement represented her, and the third movement (now the second) represented the rhythmic games of their two children.
Compositional Technique
The Sixth Symphony is scored for a vast orchestra including unusual percussion instruments like cow-bells, deep tubular bells, whip, and hammer.
Notable Performances
The Sixth Symphony premiered in 1906 in Essen, conducted by Mahler himself, at a festival of contemporary music.
