Gustav Mahler was born in Kalischt, Bohemia, July 7th, 1860. He died in
Vienna May 18th, 1911. He studied the pianoforte with Epstein,
composition and counterpoint with Bruckner. In 1883 he was appointed
Kapellmeister in Kassel; in 1885 he was called to Prague; in 1886 he was
made conductor of the Leipzig opera. In 1891 he went to Hamburg to
conduct the opera, and in 1897 he was made director of the Vienna Court
Opera. In 1908 he came to New York to conduct the operas of Wagner,
Mozart and Beethoven at the Metropolitan. In 1909 he became conductor of
the New York Philharmonic Society. His health broke in 1911, and he
returned to Vienna.
Mahler wrote nine symphonies. The first dates from 1891, the second from
1895, the third from 1896, the fourth from 1901, the fifth from 1904,
the sixth from 1906, the seventh from 1908, the eighth from 1910, and
the ninth from 1911.
Other of his compositions are: "Das Klagende Lied," for soli, chorus,
and orchestra; "Das Lied von der Erde," for soli, and orchestra;
"Kindertotenlieder," with orchestral accompaniment; "Lieder einer
fahrenden Gesellen," with orchestral accompaniment; "Des Knaben
Wunderhorn," twelve songs.