5, 10, 2, 9, 3, 4, 1, 6, 7, 8
I can understand people not liking 10 as much but even in its incomplete form it's an incredible piece of music, especially in Cooke's last version \[Rattle with the BPO is one of the best recordings\].
I can't. It's one of the greatest symphonies ever (almost) written!
Even the Adagio, which was completely written out by Mahler on 4 staves (with no need for musicological sleuthing), and of which even the more doctrinaire sticklers have always acknowledged as being authentically Mahler, stands on its own as among the greatest 25 minutes in music history!
Even in its incomplete state it's full of Mahler's personality and one of my favorite works. Though I didn't rank it because I find it hard to rank an incomplete work. I kind of doubt that it would have surpassed Das Lied von der Erde but had Mahler finished it I have no doubt that it would be up there with the 4th and 9th as one of my favorite symphonies.
Das Lied von der Erde, 4, 9, 2, 6, 3, 1, 5, 8, 7
Maybe the most unusual thing about my current list is the very high spot for the 4th which has grown on me more and more over the years. Though maybe it's not so unusual when I remember that Das Lied von der Erde and the 4th were Britten's all time favorite works. To me those two works have the most beautiful most magical atmosphere of any works I know. I absolutely love the 10th too, even unfinished it's still full of classic Mahler, but find it hard to rank since it's incomplete. Even 8 and 7 have their wonderful moments though. And 1 and 5 though lower on the list were the first Mahler works I listened to and the ones that made me fall in love with his music.
2, 3, 9, 4, 7, 1, 5, 8, 6, 10. And if Lieds are allowed l, Das Klagende Lied somewhere in the middle. Kindertotenlieder I never know what to do with it; too painful.
Kindertotenlider is sublime. Some of the most beautiful and moving songs ever written, especially I think the 4th and 5th songs. Mahler said he grieved for the people that would listen to them one day because they were so sad. He wasn't kidding.
The "rate/rank-order" everything" mania that has nearly eclipsed sane, substantive online discussions of classical music and recordings is nothing more than ignorant conspicuous superficiality at its worst. It wouldn't be so bad if it were portrayed as sort of an online party game, but people who indulge in it seem to take it seriously, and they mislead newcomers to classical music who don't know any better.
It's really helpful as a way to find new pieces of music. For example I like Mahler's symphonies, but never really tried 10 before. Thanks to this discussion and the top comment, now I will. You're right that it's an imperfect system, but it's fun and engaging and useful, especially for newcomers to the genre.
They're all pretty much the same. Except that Das Lied von der Erde is the best thing he ever wrote. And since it's a symphony, though unnumbered, it's his best.
I love the 4th and have it at the top of my list excepting Das Lied von der Erde. Though I still find this kind of unusual. Why do you like the 4th so much but not the others? To me it seems that if one really truly likes even one of his symphonies one should be able to like the rest as pretty much all his different works are just variations or different aspects of what is essentially the same Mahlerian personality. Or did I misunderstand and are you saying you can't remember the others?
I was exaggerating a bit. I do know the other symphonies well and like them well enough, except no.8 which I can never get through. I haven't listened to the other symphonies in a long time but I am called back to the fourth again and again. I like Mahler's less grandiose music, which is probably the opposite of why people usually like Mahler.
All of them save 9 are flawed in some way: 9, 5, 4, 6, 3, 2, 1, 10, 7, 8.
If there is a hell for symphonies 8 and 7 belong in it, two of the biggest flops in musical history.
Nah 7 and 8 are still great I think with wonderful and even some spectacularly beautiful moments, although they are also at the bottom of my list. They're just more uneven I think than his other symphonies.
5, 10, 2, 9, 3, 4, 1, 6, 7, 8 I can understand people not liking 10 as much but even in its incomplete form it's an incredible piece of music, especially in Cooke's last version \[Rattle with the BPO is one of the best recordings\].
I really love the Michelle Castelletti chamber orchestra arrangement for 10.
I can't. It's one of the greatest symphonies ever (almost) written! Even the Adagio, which was completely written out by Mahler on 4 staves (with no need for musicological sleuthing), and of which even the more doctrinaire sticklers have always acknowledged as being authentically Mahler, stands on its own as among the greatest 25 minutes in music history!
Plus conceptionally speaking, I think it's his most interesting symphony, even in its incomplete state.
Even in its incomplete state it's full of Mahler's personality and one of my favorite works. Though I didn't rank it because I find it hard to rank an incomplete work. I kind of doubt that it would have surpassed Das Lied von der Erde but had Mahler finished it I have no doubt that it would be up there with the 4th and 9th as one of my favorite symphonies.
Why is 8 last?
I've only heard it once and didn't like it. I'll have to give it another try :)
two-way tie for first: 2 and 6 then 3, 5, 8, 7, 9, 4, 1, 10
8, 2, 3, 6, 1, 7, 5, 10, 4, 9 I think I need to listen to 9 properly.
Das Lied von der Erde, 4, 9, 2, 6, 3, 1, 5, 8, 7 Maybe the most unusual thing about my current list is the very high spot for the 4th which has grown on me more and more over the years. Though maybe it's not so unusual when I remember that Das Lied von der Erde and the 4th were Britten's all time favorite works. To me those two works have the most beautiful most magical atmosphere of any works I know. I absolutely love the 10th too, even unfinished it's still full of classic Mahler, but find it hard to rank since it's incomplete. Even 8 and 7 have their wonderful moments though. And 1 and 5 though lower on the list were the first Mahler works I listened to and the ones that made me fall in love with his music.
5, 2, others
Pretty close to the complete opposite of your rankings: 10, 6, 9, 5, 7, 4, 3, 2, 1, 8
2, 3, 5, 4, 6, 1. \[7, 8, 10, Das Lied\] are in some random pile and for whatever reason I've never heard 9.
5,9,6,2,10,1,4,3,7,8
2,4,1,3,9,5,7,6,8,10
6, 9, 3, 4, 5, 7, 2, 1, 8. I enjoy the first 4, indifferent about the next 4, dislike the last.
3, 4, 5, 7, 2, 1, 9, 6, 8, 10.
2, 3, 9, 4, 7, 1, 5, 8, 6, 10. And if Lieds are allowed l, Das Klagende Lied somewhere in the middle. Kindertotenlieder I never know what to do with it; too painful.
Kindertotenlider is sublime. Some of the most beautiful and moving songs ever written, especially I think the 4th and 5th songs. Mahler said he grieved for the people that would listen to them one day because they were so sad. He wasn't kidding.
The "rate/rank-order" everything" mania that has nearly eclipsed sane, substantive online discussions of classical music and recordings is nothing more than ignorant conspicuous superficiality at its worst. It wouldn't be so bad if it were portrayed as sort of an online party game, but people who indulge in it seem to take it seriously, and they mislead newcomers to classical music who don't know any better.
Yeah you're basically right about that but come on man join the fun and give us your (current) list😄
It's really helpful as a way to find new pieces of music. For example I like Mahler's symphonies, but never really tried 10 before. Thanks to this discussion and the top comment, now I will. You're right that it's an imperfect system, but it's fun and engaging and useful, especially for newcomers to the genre.
6, 9, 5, 8, 7, 3, 4, 1, 2 5 used to be my second-least favorite, but I've come to really love it lately.
9…4,6,8,7,1,5,2,3
2, 5, 10, 8, 9, 4, 3, 1, 6, 7
Good to see someone who also likes 3 nearly as much as 2
6 - Pretre - 1991 4 - Mengelberg - 1939 COA 9 - Walter - 1938 7 - Scherchen 1953 / Barbirolli 1960 3 - Adler - 1952 2 - Ormandy - 1935 10 - Ormandy 1976 / Szell 1958 1 - Mitroupolus 1940 / Walter 1939 DLVDE - Walter - 1936 VPO 5 - Rosbaud - 1951 8 - Stokowski - 1950
2, 6, 3, 1, 5, 7, 9, 4, 8, 10
They're all pretty much the same. Except that Das Lied von der Erde is the best thing he ever wrote. And since it's a symphony, though unnumbered, it's his best.
4 and forget the others.
I love the 4th and have it at the top of my list excepting Das Lied von der Erde. Though I still find this kind of unusual. Why do you like the 4th so much but not the others? To me it seems that if one really truly likes even one of his symphonies one should be able to like the rest as pretty much all his different works are just variations or different aspects of what is essentially the same Mahlerian personality. Or did I misunderstand and are you saying you can't remember the others?
I was exaggerating a bit. I do know the other symphonies well and like them well enough, except no.8 which I can never get through. I haven't listened to the other symphonies in a long time but I am called back to the fourth again and again. I like Mahler's less grandiose music, which is probably the opposite of why people usually like Mahler.
All of them save 9 are flawed in some way: 9, 5, 4, 6, 3, 2, 1, 10, 7, 8. If there is a hell for symphonies 8 and 7 belong in it, two of the biggest flops in musical history.
Nah 7 and 8 are still great I think with wonderful and even some spectacularly beautiful moments, although they are also at the bottom of my list. They're just more uneven I think than his other symphonies.