The Music Plays On — Mahler Symphony №8

Veni Creátor Spíritus Hymn, 9th century

The process of composing for Mahler was often incredibly arduous and difficult. He did not have time to compose for most of the year because his job as the General Music Director for the Vienna Hofoper was all-consuming. He only could write music during his summer holidays and it would often take weeks for him to decompress and get into the proper mindset. Then he would often only partly finish the symphony just as the…