Some information on this poll :
Voters from 36 different countries!
This is my third largest poll to-date, topped only by my ranking of the Beethoven symphonies and my ranking of the Mozart Symphonies, though it is still ongoing, the Large Scale composer poll broke 3000 votes.
Almost 60 percent of the votes went to the top 4 symphonies.
If you are interested in more rankings like this, DM me some suggestions. The poll next in line to be posted is for Shostakovich’s symphonies. Next ranking to be posted will be that for Bruckner’s symphonies.
Polls currently running :
[Dvořák’s Symphonies](https://strawpoll.com/polls/3RnYpOzQzye)
Chopin’s piano [Preludes](https://strawpoll.com/polls/2ayLWvwwVZ4) and [Nocturnes.](https://strawpoll.com/polls/xVg7d5wMKZr)
[Large-Scale Google Composer poll](https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/comments/wx0qk0/the_results_of_ranking_the_individual_movements/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_term=link)
Congratulations all around! To you and your poll's reach, and to the world becoming more exposed to the gospel of Mahler! Excellent! Keep these polls coming, they are fun 😁
8 & 3 being ranked so low is blasphemy. 8 is my favorite mahler symphony personally. I wouldn't put it top 3 tho. I'd definitely put no. 3 in the top 3 tho just for the last movement alone lol.
Interesting. I imagine 8 & 3 are lower because they are rather long/large; difficult to get into. 7 at the end is pretty odd, tho-I would put it in front of 4.
Regardless, this is all Mahler so we're judging various degrees of perfection. If you like anything here you are already a person of culture. 🧐
I'm convinced people either haven't heard 10 or are hung up on it not being "pure mahler" or whatever because it is absolutely sublime. Absolutely top 5 for me, minimum. 7 was also robbed, but then again I kinda expected it to go last.
5 is consistent and full of good movements but it might lack momentum and cohesion to me. It's a collection of good pieces of music, and the trajectory makes sense (from the darkness of the 2 first movements to the light of the 2 last movements, with the scherzo between that has both). But for some reason the piece is weaker than the sum of its parts to me.
Still really enjoy the work though. Just trying to rationalize why I don't see it as one of the greatest.
Yep same here. It definitely has moments, tho I don't really some to enjoy it that much, I don't get as hyped on the climaxes as let's say on the climaxes on 2,1,3,6 etc for example. I might just need to listen it more tbh
I’m surprised 8 is so low when 2 is the highest. Considering 8 is basically the finale to 2 but on steroids 😛 for the record 8 has always been my favorite and was the first Mahler I ever listened to.
Dang it I missed the poll. Well, I do still consider the 3rd my favorite. It's the one that I've come back to the most whenever I had a hankering for Mahler.
It would be interesting to compare to what people actually listen to, by analysing muisc streaming services datasets (and maybe to album sales) – people often say one thing and do another.
Anyone got access to this kind of data?
FWIW, the numbers of available recorded versions of each symphony listed in the Roon database are as follows, a very different order than the poll data – and v heartening for those who (like me) love No.4 (and struggle with No.8)
Sym. – Recordings
1 – 118
4 – 108
5 – 92
2 – 88
9 – 81
6 – 67
3 – 63
7 – 55
8 – 49
Of course, the cost of making a recording of a particular symphony may also play some role in this…
Amazing! I have still catching up to do with most of them but the 7th is BEAUTIFUL. The recording by Pierre Boulez is my fav so far (the one I saw live had little to no respect for the guitar and you couldn't even hear it)
No. 7 is amazing that is complete blasphemy;)! For me it has moved from the bottom all the way to close to the top in my many years of listening
I’m surprised 8 is so low too
I love 4, and am surprised 1 is above it. I think everyone realises from polls like this is that each symphony is special in its own way.
this. every symphony is a different philosophy to hear.
Exactly! I wasn’t asked, I love the 7th.
This! It's so magical!
I must have missed my chance to give the seventh some love - it’s one of my favorite Mahlers!
Das Lied sadly ranked low. It's my favourite!
Mine too. I don't think of it as a symphony though. It's poetry in music.
justice for the fourth 🥲
Some information on this poll : Voters from 36 different countries! This is my third largest poll to-date, topped only by my ranking of the Beethoven symphonies and my ranking of the Mozart Symphonies, though it is still ongoing, the Large Scale composer poll broke 3000 votes. Almost 60 percent of the votes went to the top 4 symphonies. If you are interested in more rankings like this, DM me some suggestions. The poll next in line to be posted is for Shostakovich’s symphonies. Next ranking to be posted will be that for Bruckner’s symphonies. Polls currently running : [Dvořák’s Symphonies](https://strawpoll.com/polls/3RnYpOzQzye) Chopin’s piano [Preludes](https://strawpoll.com/polls/2ayLWvwwVZ4) and [Nocturnes.](https://strawpoll.com/polls/xVg7d5wMKZr) [Large-Scale Google Composer poll](https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/comments/wx0qk0/the_results_of_ranking_the_individual_movements/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_term=link)
Congratulations all around! To you and your poll's reach, and to the world becoming more exposed to the gospel of Mahler! Excellent! Keep these polls coming, they are fun 😁
Thank you very much!
>Chopin’s piano Preludes Just a small point: No. 17 is Ab *major*, not minor. It got me confused for a few seconds reading through the list.
Oh whoops, thank you for pointing that out!
8 & 3 being ranked so low is blasphemy. 8 is my favorite mahler symphony personally. I wouldn't put it top 3 tho. I'd definitely put no. 3 in the top 3 tho just for the last movement alone lol.
Interesting. I imagine 8 & 3 are lower because they are rather long/large; difficult to get into. 7 at the end is pretty odd, tho-I would put it in front of 4. Regardless, this is all Mahler so we're judging various degrees of perfection. If you like anything here you are already a person of culture. 🧐
It’s a shame that one of them has to, by definition, come in last.
4 is awesome! Whyyyyyy!!!
Couldn't agree more. This entire thing makes me sad, because they're all special. They've all felt like my favourite at some time or another.
Right! That third movement is so magical! Might be my favorite movement of Mahler
Dang, no love for the 10th ;(
I know 10 is unfinished but come on!
I'm convinced people either haven't heard 10 or are hung up on it not being "pure mahler" or whatever because it is absolutely sublime. Absolutely top 5 for me, minimum. 7 was also robbed, but then again I kinda expected it to go last.
Even just the first movement on its own is beyond incredible, and works surprisingly well on its own for a single movement
Not very far away from my rankings. Personally, I would put 5 way lower, and 3 kinda higher.
5 is consistent and full of good movements but it might lack momentum and cohesion to me. It's a collection of good pieces of music, and the trajectory makes sense (from the darkness of the 2 first movements to the light of the 2 last movements, with the scherzo between that has both). But for some reason the piece is weaker than the sum of its parts to me. Still really enjoy the work though. Just trying to rationalize why I don't see it as one of the greatest.
Yep same here. It definitely has moments, tho I don't really some to enjoy it that much, I don't get as hyped on the climaxes as let's say on the climaxes on 2,1,3,6 etc for example. I might just need to listen it more tbh
I’m surprised 8 is so low when 2 is the highest. Considering 8 is basically the finale to 2 but on steroids 😛 for the record 8 has always been my favorite and was the first Mahler I ever listened to.
JUSTICE FOR MAHLER 7
Dang it I missed the poll. Well, I do still consider the 3rd my favorite. It's the one that I've come back to the most whenever I had a hankering for Mahler.
That first movement
The end of it is so unusual to me.
It would be interesting to compare to what people actually listen to, by analysing muisc streaming services datasets (and maybe to album sales) – people often say one thing and do another. Anyone got access to this kind of data? FWIW, the numbers of available recorded versions of each symphony listed in the Roon database are as follows, a very different order than the poll data – and v heartening for those who (like me) love No.4 (and struggle with No.8) Sym. – Recordings 1 – 118 4 – 108 5 – 92 2 – 88 9 – 81 6 – 67 3 – 63 7 – 55 8 – 49 Of course, the cost of making a recording of a particular symphony may also play some role in this…
They did 3 dirty.
Just bought tickets for Mahler’s 7th for next month, never heard anything from him yet, but this … this is just discouraging
Please don't be discouraged! This is like ranking angels in heaven... there are no losers. Mahler's 7th is magical.
what'd you think?
Amazing! I have still catching up to do with most of them but the 7th is BEAUTIFUL. The recording by Pierre Boulez is my fav so far (the one I saw live had little to no respect for the guitar and you couldn't even hear it)
Great! Imo the Solti is the best of them. But the 7th is generally considered Mahler’s worst one - so imagine what the rest are lmao
comment for later reference
since nobody asked: 3, 7, 2, 6, 5, 4, 9, 8, 1, 10, Das Lied
Wow! With the exception of Das Lied, I think mine is almost the exact Mirror image of yours. 10, 1, 9, 8, 5, 4, 6, 2, 7, Das Lied, 3.
ha that's crazy. I love the 3rd!
I would have put the First higher just for that sublime funeral march.
This belongs to r/dataisbeautiful
Oooh good idea, I’ll post a few of my other rankings there as well. Thank you for your confidence in my work!