I think such tension as Onhwy61 mentions can also be expressed via chord and key changes which are entirely major. Im not sure if that's what you meant by your Mahler example or not. Many times the emotional release felt can be a result of returning (at the end of the piece) to the tonic key from some remote key which is not necessarily a minor one.
Minor keys are like spice and alcohol?
Only to be enjoyed by adults as they have a slight edge.
I think about some of my all time favourite pieces new(ish) and very old. All the ones I come back to may even be written in a major key, but the angst, pain, edge, realness (sorry for using such a terrible word, but it worked for Shakespeare) always comes to us via the minor (possibly variation) - usually the minor third or sixth depending if you want to go up or down.
Does it take a little personal pain to "get" this, or just an appreciation of the musical make-up?
I have had one recent track which is (fairly) new bring me to tears which although based in E-Major (guitar based) when pushed ends up in C# minor when they are pressing the emotion buttons. And for such a simple song, it reminds me why I love music so much and how I would like to spend more time with it.
I think about some of my all time favourite pieces new(ish) and very old. All the ones I come back to may even be written in a major key, but the angst, pain, edge, realness (sorry for using such a terrible word, but it worked for Shakespeare) always comes to us via the minor (possibly variation) - usually the minor third or sixth depending if you want to go up or down.
Does it take a little personal pain to "get" this, or just an appreciation of the musical make-up?
I have had one recent track which is (fairly) new bring me to tears which although based in E-Major (guitar based) when pushed ends up in C# minor when they are pressing the emotion buttons. And for such a simple song, it reminds me why I love music so much and how I would like to spend more time with it.