Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Gustav Mahler: The Philosophy of Music
School	Lan, Cult, Art Hist & Music
Department	Music
Module Code	09 30834
Module Lead	Ben Earle
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Guided independent study-180 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Today the symphonies of Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) stand at the heart of the concert repertory. They have generated an enormous amount of musicological commentary. But the most acute study of this music is arguably one of the earliest: the short book, Mahler: A Musical Physiognomy, published by the German philosopher Theodor W. Adorno in 1960, at a time when Mahler’s music was much less familiar. For all its brilliant insight, Adorno’s book is not an easy read. So the aim here is twofold. Students who take this module will gain a comprehensive knowledge of Mahler’s symphonies, not just in terms of their formal construction, but also with regard to their intellectual content, itself often philosophical (Mahler was an avid reader of both Schopenhauer and Nietzsche). At the same time, they will learn how to read the work of the twentieth century’s most celebrated philosopher of music, whose book on Mahler is one of his finest achievements.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: demonstrate an ability to identify the principal elements of the formal construction of Gustav Mahler’s symphonies, with particular reference to the Formenlehre tradition of musical analysis demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the philosophical background to Gustav Mahler’s symphonies, especially in relation to the thought of Schopenheuer and Nietzsche demonstrate an excellent understanding of Theodor W. Adorno’s philosophical interpretation of Mahler’s symphonies, as laid out in his 1960 monograph on the composer demonstrate the ability to critically assess Theodor W. Adorno’s philosophical interpretation of Mahler’s symphonies to an excellent level of competence, with respect both to musical and philosophical issues
Assessment	30834-01 : Essay 1 : Coursework (50%) 30834-02 : Essay 2 : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Two essays (2,000 words, 50% each) Reassessment: Re-submission of failed component.
Other
Reading List