Composer

:

Gustav Mahler

Genre

:

Symphony

Style

:

Symphony

Compose Date

:

1906 - 1907

Publication Date

:

1910 - 1911

First Performance

:

Sep 12, 1910

Average_duration

:

79:21

Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in E flat major, also known as the Symphony of a Thousand, was composed between 1906 and 1907. It premiered on September 12, 1910, in Munich, Germany, with Mahler conducting. The symphony is scored for a massive orchestra, eight soloists, two mixed choirs, and a boys' choir. The Symphony of a Thousand is divided into two parts, each with two movements. The first part begins with a powerful setting of the Latin hymn "Veni, Creator Spiritus," sung by the combined choirs. This is followed by the first movement, "Imple superna gratia," which features the soloists and choirs singing texts from the medieval Latin hymn "Veni, Sancte Spiritus." The second movement, "Infirma nostri corporis," is a setting of the final lines of the hymn, sung by the boys' choir. The second part of the symphony begins with the third movement, "Blicket auf zum Retterblick," which features the soloists and choirs singing texts from Goethe's Faust. The final movement, "Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis," is a setting of the final lines of the poem, sung by the soloists and choirs. The Symphony of a Thousand is characterized by its massive scale and grandeur. Mahler's use of multiple choirs and soloists creates a sense of overwhelming power and intensity. The symphony is also notable for its use of tonality, with Mahler blending traditional tonal structures with more modernist techniques. Overall, the Symphony of a Thousand is a monumental work that showcases Mahler's mastery of orchestration and his ability to create powerful, emotionally charged music. It remains one of his most popular and beloved works, and is considered a masterpiece of the late Romantic era.

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