Student Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-26-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Music
Language
English
First Advisor
David Schober
Second Advisor
William Rothstein
Abstract
Gustav Mahler's Sixth Symphony in A minor, commonly known as the "Tragic," has become one of the Austrian symphonist's most celebrated works. This monumental symphony's direct and powerful expression have assured its place in the concert hall and its labyrinthine structure and wealth of intricate detail have made it an object of fascination for countless analysts and commentators through to the present day. My analysis of the symphony works up from the smallest elements of its harmonic progression and harmony to large-scale issues of tonality and form. In the process, I reveal the connections that bind all of the symphony's movements together, gradually working towards a discussion of the currents that guide the work to its tragic conclusion.
Recommended Citation
Schweitzer, Benjamin G., "Chorale and Collapse: An Analysis of Mahler's Sixth Symphony" (2022). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/qc_etds/11