Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 2: Explained in 3 Minutes | Orchestra of the Music Makers

Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony is one of the most popular and well-loved symphonies today. What were his motivations and intentions for writing it? What is it about the narrative and emotion in the work that appeals to us more than a century later? Watch this video to find out!
A production by Orchestra of the Music Makers.
Animator: Hope Chung
Narrator: Nicholas Papayano
Script and Concept: Christopher Cheong
Scriptwriters: Oliver Tan, Jordan Yoong
Catch OMM's performance of Mahler' Second Symphony on:
KZbin: • Mahler - Symphony No.2...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/018xk5...
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/sg/album/mah...
Website: www.orchestra.sg
Instagram: / omm.sg
Facebook: / orchmusicmakers

[@eduardovieira7001]

Nobody is the same after hearing Mahler 2nd for the first time

[@yummyjackalmeat]

This symphony makes me cry every time I hear it. Nothing compares to seeing it live though. It's such a huge spectacle. That finale...wow

[@ihavegcc472]

Me too!

[@cpresto2]

I saw the American Symphony Orchestra perform it at the Kennedy Center in DC. During the finale, I found it incredibly difficult to sit still and quiet in my chair. I wanted to stand up and scream and tear my hair out - it was absolutely mind boggling.

[@paulhenner8914]

Me too !

[@robertdingwall3711]

Nothing like seeing it live, gasping for air as you’re struggling to breathe during the finale is an experience that I will never forget and would like to experience again. Nothing compares to seeing Mahlers work in the flesh

[@colbyzur4642]

I want to experience it but I’ve never been to a symphony and have no idea how to find a quality performance

[@Dave_McCree]

God, this symphony ever makes me cry at the end

[@ihavegcc472]

I do aswell

[@Dave_McCree]

@Robertjc nice joke dude

[@SynchroScore]

We may not know what Heaven looks like...but Mahler says it's tuned to E-flat Major.

[@Jenifer.flute20]

I’m performing this tonight with an orchestra and choir comprising about 300 people and it’s legit SUBLIME. I am so beyond thrilled to be part of this amazing work.

[@wadericejr2788]

To hear this work in a recording is a wonderful discovery. To hear it live is an overwhelming experience. To be a part of the chorus in a performance of it is life-changing!

[@minasmigkosgymnastics8742]

Just imagine conducting it

[@rairao7975]

I heard it live recently and I couldn’t find anyone to talk with about it. I have always wanted to hear it live and I finally did. I attended with my parents but their level of appreciation is very small so I didn’t want to bore them with a discussion lol. The torture is unreal.

[@TheGamingMotionTGM]

​@@rairao7975 Then you realised that there are people today that die without ever listening to this symphony. We better fulfill our bucket list when there's still time.

[@eduardovieira7001]

@@rairao7975 i often feel the same.

[@musicalaviator]

Doing a trumpet part next weekend along with 350 other performers.

[@nicolasgagnon8738]

I have the chance of playing this amazing symphony for the first time in my life next week as the first trumpet. I cried everytime I saw it in concerts and everytime I listen to recordings. I cant imagine how much of a musical and happiness peak this will be. The pure joy that I imagine every night Come true

[@rgibeli]

How did this go man? I'm a trumpet player too and I've been in a few projects that have overwhelmed me while playing it sure was amazing

[@chrisgill1755]

He didn’t try to do it. He did it.🙏🏼

[@davidjames1684]

Generally speaking, you cannot do something without also trying to do it (breathing is an exception).

[@harrylee3898]

Fun fact, the Sarmon used on the 3rd movement is known as "Sermão de Santo António aos Peixes" (Sermon of Saint Anthony to the Fish), a real book written by a Portuguese priest and preacher Padre António Vieira (Father António Vieira). It was written and preached for the first time in Brazil in Saint Anthony's day, following the disputes that arose between the Brazilian colonists and the Jesuits (religious order to which Vieira belonged), which contested the slavery of indigenous peoples. Three days after preaching it, António Vieira secretly embarked to Lisbon, to try to obtain from King João IV laws that would guarantee basic rights to Brazilian Indians, that would protect them from the exploitation of white colonists. Vieira managed to achieve his objectives, against the will of the colonists who thus lost part of their cheap labor, which they exploited ruthlessly. It is a document of surprising imagination, oratory ability and satirical power of Father António Vieira, who takes various fish as symbols of some human virtues and, mainly, of the vices of those colonists, who are severely censored. The whole Sermon is, therefore, an allegory, being the fish a metaphor for men. It is divided in 6 chapters. The first half is where he praises the fish (an introduction, a set of general praises and then a set of particular praises, where he reaches Tobias' Holy Fish, a Remora, a Torpedo, and a Four Eyes. He praises inner virtue, strength, conversion and prudence. The second half is where he reprehends the fish for their flaws (first general ones, then particular ones (where he reaches the Grunt, the Suckerfish, the Flying Fish and the Octopus) and finally the closing chapter. He reprehends pride and arrogance, freeloaders and opportunists, vanity and ambition and finally treachery. It is a heavy book and, like I said, all of it an allegory, you need to be really good at comprehension to understand the whole meaning of it. Nonetheless I strongly recommend it. Everyone in Portugal knows it as it is mandatory reading in school for us.

[@chimpazoo1143]

i'm brazilian and i never heard of it, thanks for sharing!

[@Roh0io]

Please more of these animations!

[@prometheanevent]

I’ve seen this performed live at least seven times in different locations. While living in New York in the 80’s I got to see Leonard Bernstein rehearse the work, seeing the performance that night. It’s unquestionably among civilization’s greatest artworks.

[@valdinjo3695]

I remember it so distinctively: I'm a musician, a choir singer and trombone player and I had the joy of singing my first concert after the pandemic break in Mai 2021 in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral - I think it was one of the most emotional musical moments of my entire life - Mahler's calming melody, calling for inner piece in the end and telling us that everything will be alright after we've left this place...

[@worldtipper]

Yes this makes me cry too. It really touched me.

[@alanmundy1536]

This was well done. Mahler is astonishing. For those of us who have a visceral response to Mahler it is difficult to explain to others the profound impact his music has. Mahler I think forces us to confront ourselves despite ourselves. Mahler has been with me since I was teenager and 40 years later he remains with me. I hope to leave this world to the Chorus Mysticus of the 8th Symphony.

[@f.p.2010]

Please, please some of the other symphonies!!

[@paulhenner8914]

Rise.........Rise up.......And LIVE !

[@mariorossi9655]

"Rise, yes rise again my heart in an instant. That for which you have suffered shall lead you to God." The final Aufersteh is the greatest moment in all of classical music. A lychgate between the mundane and the sacred.

[@omatje14]

This is really well done and deserves more views!

[@paul-wieting]

Very nice video. More of this please

[@meri.learning.languages]

Wow how great, I wish there were more of these!

[@2905sid]

You could make one of these with Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, and 7th symphonies easily. They all have a similar story of exultation - lamentation - rejuvenation - triumph.

[@f.p.2010]

x doubt

[@marazulization]

This is great thanks ! Loved the ideas ! 👏

[@Sonnedude]

The Grand Rapids symphony uses this video in the pretalk before their performance in March

[@FelixVW]

That's simply nice. Thank you!

[@marceloestevao]

Wonderful!

[@zhaoxiaoying9894]

So short, so beautifully said.

[@elianaspeaking]

Cool video. Def worthy of more views!

[@jacobbump1282]

Thank you so much for this. This overview analysis helped me put this piece into perspective. It is one of my favorites!!

[@Sam-nb1rm]

Amazing! Thanks!

[@robinblankenship9234]

Very very well done.

[@jan5679]

Loved the animation 😍more pls

[@mtan0001]

very good illustration

[@boriskorolyov5253]

Thanks, man!

[@ahok7080]

Such a Very great music ,...I listen this Symphony Every my birthday

[@johntate6537]

Well done, beautifully simple and direct telling of the story of the Resurrection Symphony. Still one of my favourite composers who puts the full power of musical expression at the service of connecting humanity.

[@darkenergy2841]

Great animation, recently saw this live and it blew me away.

[@timothyleow2323]

This needs more views

[@tesan6805]

Wow thank you so much 😊

[@salrubz]

Thank you! As a pianist with a pretty....scraggy acknowledgement of the orchestral greats and hoping to improve, this was very helpful!

[@JohnathandosSantos]

Great video!

[@maxi8382]

Nice Job!

[@thestampium3295]

I want to see full video of 5th movement

[@johnsummers9790]

There are many versions on You Tube.

[@ShenanChou1]

Bravo！！！！！

[@mikemmikem2758]

Very ingenious and clever way of explaining this in 3 minutes. Did you use the 3 minute marker thinking of Mahler's last 3 minutes with the IPO symphony?

[@MercurySwordz]

I've always seen it as Mahler digging himself out of the ground in the very first first part.

[@mrpablox127]

Great video, do you inspire in some book specificly or something?

[@SP-qi8ur]

Very good. Did you cut the ending tho?

[@Josep489]

Hi my friends This video is awesome, but it's a pitty there's not avaiable subs in another language for non-english speakers. Can U make avaiable your video for translate subs?

[@markgeelen5207]

Which recording is this. I love how it sounds!!

[@VanessaHolguin]

Where did you get this info from?

[@listerofsmeg884]

some sources say that the funeral is meant to be that of the character in the first Symphony

[@flaviusaetius8358]

Mahler 2nd symphony for dummies Now we are waiting for "Das lied von der erde"

[@abrahamlincoln9758]

1. Life is terrible. Let's drink. 2. I'm lonely 3. Remember when life was good? 4. Childhood was awesome. 5. F it, let's get cranked. 6. I'm tired. Where are you? Goodbye. Everything is beautiful.

[@christopherbernhardt]

You forgot the second part! We also do not die in vain!

[@lylecohen1638]

Is this whole plot actually based on something intended by Mahler or simply an interpretation?

[@alexburks860]

Mahler himself wrote various explanations that he later had rescinded from public circulation. But the "plot" that is presented here was indeed envisioned by Mahler. He also wrote most of the choral verses at the end.

[@pinoiado]

And there are some scumbags who says that classical music is boring

[@ligetisspaghetti5763]

you should listen because EWIG

Mahler was a Jew converted to Catholicism. I hear in this symphony the Resurrection of Christ from the point of view of many of the characters in the Gospels.

[@steveeliscu1053]

Ha! That animated orchestra at the end isn't even big enough to play the Mahler 4th!

[@vadim5784]

SPOILER ALERT

[@JWP452]

SMH... This really adds nothing to the great Mahler 2nd.

[@DaviSilva-oc7iv]

Why.

[@thepianist4314]

Here are your five seconds of fame...

[@anchihall8852]

Is it meant to?