The Song of the Earth

work by Mahler

Also known as: “Das Lied von der Erde”

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July 14, 2026

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Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth) is a six-movement symphonic song cycle by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, composed between 1908 and 1909. It is scored for tenor, baritone (or contralto), and orchestra. Mahler considered it his most personal work, reflecting on themes of life, death, and the beauty of nature.

The work is structured as a symphony, with each movement setting a translation of ancient Chinese poems. It explores a range of emotions, from the joyous celebration of earthly pleasures to profound sorrow and resignation in the face of mortality. The cycle concludes with a lengthy movement titled "The Farewell," which conveys a sense of peace and acceptance. Mahler's use of both solo voices and a large orchestra creates a rich tapestry of sound, blending intimate reflection with grand, sweeping gestures.1

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theatre music
Music for ballet
…Kenneth (later Sir Kenneth) MacMillan’s The Song of the Earth (1965) to the song-symphony by the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. The dancers seem required to assume the “personality,” or expressive character, of the musical instruments they parallel, as if the choreographers were moving toward a form of “ideal” dance once…
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…Kenneth (later Sir Kenneth) MacMillan’s The Song of the Earth (1965) to the song-symphony by the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. The dancers seem required to assume the “personality,” or expressive character, of the musical instruments they parallel, as if the choreographers were moving toward a form of “ideal” dance once…
Read More

Gustav Mahler
Musical works: last period
…Lied von der Erde (1908; The Song of the Earth), Symphony No. 9 (1910), and Symphony No. 10 in F Sharp Major, left unfinished in the form of a comprehensive full-length sketch (though a full-length performing version has been made posthumously). The first of the three again revealed Mahler’s superstition:…
Read More
…Lied von der Erde (1908; The Song of the Earth), Symphony No. 9 (1910), and Symphony No. 10 in F Sharp Major, left unfinished in the form of a comprehensive full-length sketch (though a full-length performing version has been made posthumously). The first of the three again revealed Mahler’s superstition:…
Read More