People create music for different reasons. Some express romance, joy, and sadness, while others write music to praise God. Gustav Mahler wrote his Second Symphony, the “Resurrection Symphony,” to explore a full human experience. In it, he touches on the deadly adversaries we face, the complex emotions we experience, and the idea of an afterlife where we return to God. I have listened to this piece so many times that even the four walls of my room could possibly remember the melodies. Yet, tears still stream down my face during the final movement of the 'Resurrection Symphony' like mighty Niagara Falls, leaving me with a blurred vision of life after death and glimpses of my most delicate memories.
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), an Austro-Bohemian composer, wrote his second symphony between 1888 and 1894. Regarded as one of the most complex and epic works in music history, this 90-minute-long symphony can be interpreted in several movements. The music begins with the sounds of funeral, then transitions into a joyful yet melancholy reflection on life. It segues into a gentle call from the angels and marches to the final climax, painting the glorious imagery of the ultimate resurrection.
Why does the “Resurrection Symphony” sound religious to many first-time listeners who don’t have prior knowledge of its background story? Several answers can probably be drawn from the musical composition. I am not a musician, nor have I studied music formally. However, anybody who has listened to this piece would say, ‘Yes, it is religious and unequivocally Christian!’
Christian symbolism can be heard throughout the symphony. Starting with the sound of the instruments, where the heavy blasts of the brass section mirror what is known as funeral music, collaborating with strings and organs to create a solemn musical atmosphere commonly heard in churches. While instrumental music opens the door for imagination and evokes complex emotions, we are also blessed with lyrical choruses in the two last movements of the “Resurrection Symphony,” which directly convey the meaning of the sounds we’ve heard throughout the whole piece. In the fourth movement, Mahler indicates that human beings are created by God and, upon our death, shall return to God.
“Ich bin von Gott und will wieder zu Gott!” (I am from God and shall return to God!)
A gifted musician and poet, Mahler emphasizes in words that our lives aren’t lived for nothing, as the lyrics read,
“O glaube, mein Herz, o glaube:
Es geht dir nichts verloren!
(“O believe, my heart, oh believe,
Nothing will be lost to you!)
Dein ist, was du gesehnt!
Dein, was du geliebt, Was du gestritten! ”
(Everything is yours that you have desired,
Yours, what you have loved, what you have struggled for.)
The “Resurrection Symphony” can be understood in many ways, as people view life from their own perspectives. However, it is undeniable that Gustav Mahler believes in life after death. In the fifth and last movement of the symphony, the choir sing out the triumphal notes of ultimate resurrection, leaving the audience in awe of the grandeur of Mahler’s uplifting musicality and stunning poetry.
Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n wirst du,
Mein Herz, in einem Nu!
Was du geschlagen,
Zu Gott wird es dich tragen!
(Arise, yes, you will arise from the dead,
My heart, in an instant!
What you have conquered
Will bear you to God.)
(Houston Symphony, 2024)
Someone once shared with me their frustrating yet honest opinion: classical music (instrumental music) sounds meaningless, and there is not much to it. While I unequivocally object, it is my genuine belief that to appreciate good music, we need patience, a willingness to understand, and room for imagination. Just as we may dread reading a long but enriching book when going through short videos on TikTok is so much easier, it is crucial to find the inner strength to consume media in a thoughtful manner. The depth we gain from two hundred pages of George Orwell surpasses the fleeting impact of short video clips that we quickly forget.
While trying to understand Mahler’s Second Symphony, I read about Mahler’s life and the tragedies that surrounded him. As a musician who seemed to have gained everything he wanted — a world-renowned conducting position in Vienna, several epic symphonies, a beautiful family, and unwavering faith — Mahler’s music often evokes the theme of death and profound sadness, shaped by the losses of his parents, four of his children, mentors, and friends throughout his career. Amid the tragedies, Mahler did not stop composing. From my perspective, what Mahler brought to the world is a holistic human experience which goes beyond the contemporary and physical but lifts our spirits to the clouds, taking us to a space where there is only us, our past, and God.
I’ve handpicked what, in my humble opinion, are the best recordings available of the Symphony No. 2 in C minor by Gustav Mahler.