As with some of the previous symphonies, this one continues towards Mahler's brand of Modernism. The chamber textures, the increasing musical complexities, unusual rhythmic devices, etc.
Of course, we still get Mahler's nods to nature, and he is still strong with motivic material, even if they aren't as simply laid out as with his earlier works.
The first three movements are all rather upbeat in general. The opening movement is the longest. The opening and closing page of music is filled with peaceful music akin to what he left us with at the end of Das Lied von der Erde. Between those pages, musical doubts come and go.
The third movement reminds me of what Shostakovich will take up in his symphonies, particularly in the more modernist views of recorded Mahler's Ninths.
The finale is the slow movement, an odd, if not unexpected end to the symphony. It brings back the idea of a peaceful end to a journey, even if it can be rather intense in some recordings.
It would not surprise me one bit if some struggled with Mahler's Ninth Symphony. It is not laid out in bright colors, even if the musical moods can be brightly colored. It also wouldn't surprise me if this was a favorite Mahler symphony. It certainly heralds a progression towards modernism, a nod to a composer who moved along, or even ahead of, musical tides.
Like Das Lied von der Erde, Symphony no. 9 seems a very personal expression, and I think this is why the two works are entwined in my mind, even if they weren't conceived that way. Both works could be separate farewell letters to Mahler's love of voice and for the symphonic form.
1966: Czech PO, Ancerl
1967: London SO, Solti
1979: Philadelphia, Levine
2002: Berlin PO, Abbado
2011: London SO, Gergiev
For now, we will have a very basic list of Mahler reviews above. The current list covers the most recent spate of listened recordings, not necessarily the best or most worthwhile. The older recordings are from our collection but newly reviewed, and the newer recordings represent recordings which were recommended to me. Until we at The Oozy Channel Keep have gotten ourselves up and running, this should suffice and we can reorganize the page a little more coherently in the future.