Hello all,
I'm currently working towards my IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma, and as a part of which I need to write what is called an Extended Essay. The Extended Essay is a lengthy research essay on a topic of my choice.
One of the possible topics I've come up with is comparing the Symphonies of Beethoven to the music of Mahler, the biggest trouble at the moment being that I am really rather unfamiliar with both. I've heard most of Beethoven's symphonies, but have only listened to his 5th Symphony in depth. Mahler, on the other hand, I've only heard his 3rd and 5th Symphonies, but I've studied his 3rd Symphony for quite some time and have a brilliant CD which includes Benjamin Zander talking about each movement.
So I have a few questions that I hope someone with a larger knowledge of the music of these two composers will be able to help me with.
1. Is this comparison worthy of a 4000 word essay? The idea came to me when I read that Mahler considered his music to have real progression, and that he thought the only other composers who had real progression within their music were Wagner and Beethoven. So I'm not even sure whether there is enough to compare between the two.
2. If I were to choose 2 symphonies for each composer in addition to Mahlers 3rd and Beethoven's 5th so as to narrow the scope of my essay, which symphonies would you recommend?
Thanks!
King.
I'm currently working towards my IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma, and as a part of which I need to write what is called an Extended Essay. The Extended Essay is a lengthy research essay on a topic of my choice.
One of the possible topics I've come up with is comparing the Symphonies of Beethoven to the music of Mahler, the biggest trouble at the moment being that I am really rather unfamiliar with both. I've heard most of Beethoven's symphonies, but have only listened to his 5th Symphony in depth. Mahler, on the other hand, I've only heard his 3rd and 5th Symphonies, but I've studied his 3rd Symphony for quite some time and have a brilliant CD which includes Benjamin Zander talking about each movement.
So I have a few questions that I hope someone with a larger knowledge of the music of these two composers will be able to help me with.
1. Is this comparison worthy of a 4000 word essay? The idea came to me when I read that Mahler considered his music to have real progression, and that he thought the only other composers who had real progression within their music were Wagner and Beethoven. So I'm not even sure whether there is enough to compare between the two.
2. If I were to choose 2 symphonies for each composer in addition to Mahlers 3rd and Beethoven's 5th so as to narrow the scope of my essay, which symphonies would you recommend?
Thanks!
King.