Symphony of a Thousand

Name sometimes given to Gustav Mahler's eighth symphony, in E flat, composed 1906–07. The first performance, in Munich on 12 September 1910, was conducted by Mahler and was the greatest public success of his career. The first movement is a setting on the hymn Veni creator spiritus (‘Come, Holy Spirit’) and the second the closing scene from Goethe's drama Faust.

The symphony does not actually require 1000 performers, but it does not fall far short: the forces include eight vocal soloists, double chorus, boys' chorus, and orchestra with full strings, 20 woodwind, 17 brass instruments, celesta, piano, harmonium, and mandolin. The first US performance was in Philadelphia, on 2 March 1916, conducted by Stokowski. It was not performed in the UK until 15 April 1930 (London, conductor Wood).