Gustav Mahler is a late-Romantic composer and conductor from

Austria. The importance and influence of his ten symphonies continue to

this day. This thesis mainly studies the relationship between Mahler's life,

the related works, and his compositional style of his first symphony. In the

first symphony, Mahler applies the melody of his own song cycle "Lieder

eines fahrenden Gesellen" bonding a strong connection between both

works.

Through the rehearsals and administration of organizing a pick-up

orchestra many important experience and lessons were learnt in the process,

such as the orchestra seating arrangement, orchestration and essentials of a

conductor’s technique. These are presented in the chapter of conductor

interpretation, with in-depth discussion of the masterpiece.