Ranking Mahler Symphonies as someone who’s not a Mahler fan

Hi. Lately I’ve been listening to the complete symphonies (and some songs) of Maher, a composer of whom I respect tremendously but I previously never really ‘got’. However he was an enormously significant and influential artist, and as a composer, it’s in my best interest to familiarise myself even with music I don’t necessarily love.

And after listening to all the symphonies, am I a converted Mahler fan? No not really unfortunately. But I have gained so much appreciation his craftsmanship and still admire his vision even if it’s not really my thing.

So I thought you might find it my ranking interesting as someone who isn’t the biggest Mahler guy. And I would really appreciate if you guys could help me understand or give more insight into some of the symphonies that are lower on my list :)

1. Symphony No. 7 - This is the one symphony of his I absolutely adore from top to bottom. Definitely one of my favourite symphonies ever. I love its twilit mood and ambiguous emotions compared to the other symphonies. The scherzo is so spooky and the second nachtmusik is so descriptive and picturesque it’s amazing. And I love the finale too (even it seems to come it for it’s fair share of crisitism) - it’s so physically funny and it’s the perfect conclusion to the work.

2. Symphony No. 8 - One of the greatest choral exordiums of the 20th century. I like it better than Beethoven’s 9th! Such a cool idea to unite two seemingly unrelated poems through music. The trio of 3 women in the second movement is annoying but he more than makes up for it.

3. Symphony No. 4 - Lovely work. The finale has some of the best word setting I’ve heard - the ending is perfect. The adagio is a bit too long I think but it’s very pretty.

4. Symphony No. 6 - I really like the concept, a tragic symphony, but not a melodramatic tug-at-the-heartstrings one (eg. Tchaikovsky 6th), something more akin to the objectivity of a Greek tragedy. It just doesn’t quite work for me though. Especially the finale

5. Symphony No. 5 - The adagietto is gorgeous and the scherzo is brilliant. I like fugues so the finale works just fine for me I guess. Not a huge fan of the first two movements though.

6. Symphony No. 2 - All the movements individually are good. But together I’m not really sure if they work. Especially the huge difference in style between the first and second movements. But with the ending to that finale… the applause is well deserved

7. Symphony No. 3 - I’m a bit puzzled by the proportions of this one. The final few movements are good, but did the first movement need to be that long ? Also the finale’s ending is a bit too over-the-top for me

8. Symphony No. 1 - For a first symphony it’s a good effort. I can definitely hear his distinctive style. But I’m not the biggest fan of the finale and I really don’t like the scherzo.

9. Symphony No. 9 - I really don’t understand the ninth 😭 the very ending is touching of course. But that demented landler ? That demonic burlesque ? Not sure how it’s supposed to fit together

Note: I would rank Symphony No. 10 (in the Derek Cooke completion) just before Symphony No. 4. I would rank Das Lied con der Erde after Symphony No. 8

Also keep in mind this is just personal opinion :)