My uncle just sent me this email:

Hi Andrew!

You told me once — but I forgot — which of the Mahler symphonies you hold in general high regard.  Would you recite that preference to me again?

Any particular recording?

You will be hard pressed to find any more complex of thematic and orchestrational development than the music contained in his 5th and 6th symphonies.

Also, the sheer beauty of the slow movements of these two symphonies is without rival in the orchestral literature.

They are both very long, so consider listening to movements 3 through 5 of the 5th, and then movements 3 and 4 of the 6th to get your feet wet. When given a chance to really listen to the intricacies of his textures, I guarantee you will be blown away. They are not background music.

I have a recording of the Czech Philharmonic performing the 6th. I have a few recordings of the 5th, including (I think) one of Berlin with Abbado which was my first introduction to the 5th.

The grand sonata form of the final movement of the 6th is in the opinion of many contemporary composers the greatest achievement in all the symphonic literature. It is a whopping 30-minute universe in its own right that takes motivic development in directions not seen since Bach.  In fact, the Brandenburgs were a major influence on Mahler. Unlike most late-Romantic composers, Mahler’s music is extensively contrapuntal within its gigantic orchestrations.

These two symphonies are entirely instrumental and are an excellent contrast to the choral works he created in other symphonies. The 5th and 6th are mainstays of professional symphony programs each year. As you can see, I am unable to stop writing about them. I have listened to each hundreds of times, and still return to hear new themes and complexities I’ve not picked up on before.

They are genuinely grandiose. Enjoy!!