Origins: Church

Mahler's Origins: A "Sonic Goulash"

Church
Music shaped by the sacred tradition reflects Mahler’s ongoing search for spiritual transcendence through art.
“O believe, my heart, O believe”
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VIDEO:SFS horns in the opening moments of Mahler’s First Symphony

  • One of the many ingredients in the introduction to Mahler’s First Symphony is this hymn-like phrase intoned by two horns, reminiscent of religious chanting.

  • The chain of falling fourths that permeate the introduction is later played by horns that echo one another, suggesting the tolling of church bells.