Mahler 8

Photo: © Mahler Foundation

There is no coincidence that it is called “the Symphony of 1,000”. It is rarely performed due to the huge forces required - yet it is one of the most exhilarating pieces of choral music ever written. It is a piece Choir of the Earth just had to do - and after our Mahler 2, now is the time. Despite its epic scale, Mahler intended this work to be for the whole world, and singing it is achievable for absolutely anyone and everyone.

“This is the most significant project Choir of the Earth has ever undertaken.”

Mark Strachan, Founder of Choir of the Earth

As a worldwide choir with no “room” to find to rehearse and perform in, we can do this massive work together. This is an online learning, recording and performing course for the world to join together to create the entire Mahler 8 - all from home.

The vocal forces needed for this work are significant. It requires 2 separate choirs and a choir of children together with 8 soloists and an orchestra of over 100 instruments. We intend to ask adults and children from every country in the world to participate to make this a global event. We shall learn the entire work in online LIVE rehearsals, then record our voices. All voices will be combined together in the studio with a full orchestra and 8 soloists to create our own version of Symphony No. 8 by Gustav Mahler.

“I am so moved to think my grandfather’s music will be enjoyed by adults and children all over the world for this exciting project. I look forward to following your progress as you learn Mahler 8”

Marina Mahler, President of Choir of the Earth

As a taste of things to come, please enjoy our performance of the final movement of Mahler 2, performed on the 14th November 2020 by Choir of the Earth, the Orchestra for the Earth, and soloists Dima Bawab & Carla Lopez-Speciale, all conducted by our Course Director for Mahler 8, John Warner:

“The Mahler was a triumph! An extraordinary achievement - and so moving. I've never had an experience so powerful in any choir before.”

Liz, member of Choir of the Earth for Mahler 2

Tickets for the final performance will be sold in aid of The Mahler Foundation; a charity which fosters community, refreshes the awareness of nature as the inspiration for creativity and hopes to speak to humanity’s common purposes in the spirit of Gustav Mahler.

We offer this huge course as another world first. No one has offered Mahler 8 before where each singer (adults and children) and each orchestra player may never meet during the whole project.

We must be the only choir in the world doing Mahler 8 right now.

“The amazing choir sound is testament to the quality of the learning materials that the SIC provided. I’ve certainly never sung it before and had misgivings about learning something tricky and entirely unknown but the finished product is amazing.”

Janet, member of Choir of the Earth for Mahler 2

Sansara Choir

We shall learn the choral parts of the entire Symphony in online sessions using streaming technology. John Warner (see below) will teach us in FULL CHOIR and SECTIONAL sessions to backing tracks which have been professionally sung for us by the exceptional choir, Sansara.

JOHN RUTTER says as follows:

"Hail SANSARA! A new star in the galaxy of wonderful chamber choirs”

You can read all about Sansara here: www.sansarachoir.com

How It Will Work

We shall break the project into two parts:

Part One

All of Part One is available for you in recorded rehearsal sessions with John Warner at a discounted price.

Part Two

This starts on 5th September 2021 with a month of learning, then a month to record your voice leaving one final month to combine everything in the studio.

The sessions are as follows:

CHOIR ONE

Sunday 5th September at 20:00
Full Choir

Monday 6th September at 20:00
Basses

Tuesday 7th September at 20:00
Tenors

Wednesday 8th September at 17:00
Sopranos

Wednesday 8th September at 20:00
Altos

Friday 10th September at 20:00
Full Choir

Monday 13th September at 20:00
Basses

Tuesday 14th September at 20:00
Tenors

Wednesday 15th September at 17:00
Sopranos

Wednesday 15th September at 20:00
Altos

Friday 17th September at 20:00
Full Choir

CHOIR TWO

Monday 20th September at 20:00
Basses

Tuesday 21st September at 20:00
Tenors

Wednesday 22nd September at 17:00
Sopranos

Wednesday 22nd September at 20:00
Altos

Friday 24th September at 20:00
Full Choir

Tuesday 5th October at 17:00
Tenors

Tuesday 5th October at 20:00
Altos

Wednesday 6th October at 17:00
Sopranos

Wednesday 6th October at 20:00
Basses

Friday 8th October at 15:00
Full Choir sing-through of Part Two

Sunday 31st October from 17:00 to 18:30
Sing-through of Part One and Part Two

Thursday 25th November at 20:00
Refresher session for Part One

Friday 26th November at 20:00
DRESS REHEARSAL

Saturday 27th November at 19:00
CONCERT PERFORMANCE

We shall hold a Concert Premiere of the entire Mahler 8 on

Saturday 27th November 2021.

Course Fee

You can join either part or both. The cost for the course is £35 for Part One and £50 for Part Two per person.

This fee covers:


Online score annotated by John Warner

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The complete tuition from John Warner

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The new orchestration

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A children’s choir

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8 soloists

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A World Premiere of the complete version

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A bespoke collage featuring the whole choir, orchestra & soloists

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MP3 files of the final mixed SIC tracks for you to keep

Please do join us now - we welcome members to join the choir early so that we can start the orchestration and backing vocals needed to assist our learning.

Please note: Choir of the Earth has been careful to ensure there are minimal rehearsal clashes in 2021, however rehearsal and course times are subject to change.