Tim Dickinson wrote:

>Symphony No 5: Mahler's 5th is a wonderful piece, but is it really fair to
>compare *any* other work to Beethoven's 5th? Mahler 3, Beethoven 2.

Oh, all right, if you insist.

>Symphony No 6: Here we have two masterpieces that couldn't contrast more
>in mood: the bright sunshine of (most of) Beethoven's journey to country
>vs Mahler's trip to hell (and no, he doesn't bring us back - at least not
>until the next symphony).  ...  This one's a draw.  ...

Now wait just a minute.  Sure, the Pastorale is fine, but equal to the
cataclysmic M6?!  No way.  And what about the opinion of Berg, who said
of M6:  "The only Sixth, despite the Pastorale."

>Symphony No 9: Mahler's 9th is surely a masterpiece, but is it really fair
>to compare *any* other work with Beethoven's 9th?

Well, oh all right.

Great game, by the way.  And I agree with the ultimate decision.

Mitch Friedfeld