Mahler Symphony no.1

[baron_von_heimlich]

Is it just me or does the theme from the 3rd movement of this sound a lot like the nursery rhyme Frère Jacques?

I was listening to this symphony, and I kept hearing little wisps of it.

[Motrax]

Yes, you're quite right. Mahler used a number of folk melodies throughout his pieces, although I usually don't recognize them, me being American 'n' such. 

Great symphony, too!

[baron_von_heimlich]

Yes, what a symphony! 

Now that I know he used it.... I'm wondering if it was for a specific purpose or not?  It makes the piece more intriguing now.

[musik_man]

A music prof told me it was Frere Jacques transposed to a minor key.

[mikey6]

I would have thought that it was fairly obvious.  It's a parody on popular music - frere Jaques in a minor key (and that ethnic souding trumpet duo tieh the 'beat' ov bass drums and cymbale behind it) and ties in with Mahler's obsession of death which is then conquered by the last movement.