The Song of the Earth (composition)

"The Song of the Earth" is a large-scale musical work by composer Gustav Mahler, often called a symphonic song cycle. It combines symphony orchestra with vocalists to express deep emotional and philosophical reflections on life, mortality, and nature. Mahler drew inspiration from Chinese poetry, using texts that evoke the beauty of the natural world and the transient nature of human existence. The composition features lush orchestration, intense emotional moments, and a spiritual tone, ultimately conveying a sense of longing, acceptance, and reverence for the earth and the human experience within it.