A Mysterious Belief Among Composers
The “Curse of the Ninth” is a long-standing superstition in classical music suggesting that a composer’s ninth symphony would be their last.
According to the belief, composers who reached this milestone would either die while composing it, shortly after completing it, or before finishing a tenth. The idea emerged during the late-Romantic period and became closely tied to several prominent figures in music history.
Mahler and the Birth of the Curse
Austrian composer Gustav Mahler is widely credited with popularizing the superstition. After completing his Eighth Symphony, he composed Das Lied von der Erde (1908–1909), which, although structurally a symphony, was presented as a song cycle to avoid numbering it as his ninth.
Mahler then wrote his Ninth Symphony and believed he had escaped the so-called curse. However, while working on his Tenth Symphony, he died in 1911, leaving it unfinished, which reinforced the myth for many musicians.
Beethoven, Schubert, and Other Cases
Before Mahler, both Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert had died around the time of their ninth symphonies. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony premiered in 1824, and he died in 1827 while working on sketches for his Tenth. Schubert completed his Ninth Symphony but died in 1828 while planning his Tenth.
These earlier cases made Mahler more cautious and contributed to the belief spreading among composers during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Fear, Influence, and Modern Views
Over time, the superstition influenced several other composers. Among those associated with the “curse” are Anton Bruckner, Antonín Dvořák, Alfred Schnittke, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Malcolm Arnold, Roger Sessions, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
In 2012, composer Philip Glass remarked, “Everyone is afraid to do a ninth. It is a jinx that people think about.” Despite its reputation, the belief has weakened over time, as more composers have surpassed nine symphonies without incident.
The “Curse of the Ninth” is one of classical music’s most fascinating superstitions.
Many believed a composer’s ninth symphony would be their last, as several renowned names died while writing it, soon after finishing it, or before completing a tenth…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/aMZv87siZ2
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) September 3, 2025