Mahler: Symphony No. 3: Part II: Mov. 6 - Part 1 of 3

Symphony No. 3 in D minor: Part II: Mov. 6, "Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden"

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Christa Ludwig, contralto
Women of the Choir of the Vienna State Opera
Vienna Boy's Choir

Vienna Philharmonic

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gustav
• Mahler
• Symphony
• No.
• Vienna
• Philharmonic
• Leonard
• Bernstein
• Symphonic
• Orchestra

[hermanzoon]

Has it ever occurred to anyone else that the motive for this movement was taken directly from Beethoven's String Quartet No. 16, Third Movement? Just listen to the opening of the Beethoven. Mahler's is an exact quote.

[Tokkemon]

@hermanzoon Just the first few notes, which was probably intentional. Both composers take the same notes in different directions. That's the beauty of music.

[AbyssMage]

As beautiful as this movement is, I really don't see any reason for people to bring the existence of God into this. It's very nice music, yes, but if listening to it makes you believe in a supreme deity any more or less than you did before, then I think you're grasping at straws, and in the wrong places.

[Tokkemon]

@AbyssMage But indeed music has divine power. Allow yourself to feel it and you'll see why people say that sort of stuff.

[braddyboy82]

Absolutely beautiful. My favorite classical piece of all time.

[rallestar1]

I've always had a special aversion towards people who say stuff like "enjoy the music, don't overanalyze it" and in other ways hold the opinion that knowing about music theory doesn't enhance ones experience of music - or that it may even hinder it!

Have these people never experienced the need to know beauty, to stand confronted with it and understand its innermost functioning, to know and appreciate fully the depth of these compositions by great masters, the compositions that ...

[rallestar1]

... cost them so much so that the least mad spent all of their lives perfecting their works, while the more mad were ended by their art. And you say "don't overanalyze" as if this was a pretty drawing by a five year old! This is music by phenomenal geniuses and extraordinarily learned men - we cannot overanalyze, we can only hope to gain a tiny bit of insight into the wonders they have gifted eternity.

[Zomgurface]

@hermanzoon

Right, except for the fact that Beethoven keeps going in his usual way, whereas Mahler's stuff is actually interesting.

[hostajohn1]

This is beautiful.

It is only let down by the few comments on here from the usual "know everything" brigade.

If this was my site I'd say: "Thanks, then block them.

[oceanse11]

@oceanse11 The symphony was composed before the quartet

[oceanse11]

@hermanzoon

It can also be heard in Beethoven's 3rd symphony in the slow movement. Exact same passage. Before I came to that realization I loved Mahler more. Now the credit goes to Beethoven. Certainly Mahler "stole" it. No biggie, but the credit goes to Beethoven for its beauty.

[captainkegelt]

Just enjoy the music; don't over analyze it.

[jgesselberty]

@kentcollier Yes. Some of the most finely crafted self-indulgent schlock in the history of music. You have to listen intently to hear the miraculous.

[sorim1967]

@Tokkemon what is the corrolation to the divine of Heindrich who adored Schubert and was apparently an accomplished musician?

[ramrambatti]

This is something Mahler himself would not approve of. And this is NOT Mahler in my opinion. This is something created out from over self-indulgence. Mahler liked Mengelberg. Shame, many believes he is a protege from Mahler roots.