Gustav Mahler

Symphonies

Written WorkSib A

Department of Wind Instruments, Percussion and Harp February 2013

Atsushi Sakamoto

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Abstract

Mahler’s work is often taken up in the concert today. The symphony especially serves as an important repertory of the latest orchestra. Since those all are very difficult technically and it is long, a serious labor is needed for completing the whole, but when a concert is successful, a sense of accomplishment has some which are not changed to other things. I have been engaged in Mahler’s work as a trumpeter. I have actually performed some works and also have listened concerts many times. Although as technically remarkable for a brass player was required, more it performed, more interest the deepness of Mahler’s symphony. I described each background, a story, structure, etc. briefly about nine symphonies (except for incomplete no.10) which Mahler completed on this writing.

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-Contents-

Abstract ………………………………………………………………………….... 2

Contents ….………………………….……………………………………………. 3

Introduction ………………………………….…………………….…………….. 4

Symphony No.1 ….………………………….......................................……….. 5

Symphony No.2 …………………….…………………………………………….. 6

Symphony No.3 …………………….………………………………………….... 8

Symphony No.4 ……………………………………………………...………… 10

Symphony No.5 ……….……….……………………………………..………... 11

Symphony No.6 …….………………………………………………………….. 12

Symphony No.7 ……..…………………………………………………………. 13

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Symphony No.8 ……….……………………………………………………….. 14

Symphony No.9 ………………………………..………………………………. 16

Bibliography …………………………………...……………………………….. 18

Biography …………….…………………………..…………………………….. 19

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Introduction

Gustav Mahler was born in the village of Kalischt(now it is Czech Republic) and passed away in Vienna in 1911. He composed Ten symphonies (including “Das Lied von der Erde”) in 50 years of his whole life. He also had days busy as a conductor as follows, Budapest Royal Opera, Hamburg State Opera, Vienna Hofoper etc. and his later years also New York Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic. Much of his wonderful work was composed in the intervals of such a busy command activities. Mahler began to write his first symphony at the age of 24. And he composed six symphonies (from no.5 to no.9) in his last ten years. It is quite a surprising fact.

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Symphony No.1

Composing year: 1884 – 1888Premiere: 1. November 1889 (consists of 2 parts, 5 movements) Mahler

conducts, Budapest Philharmonic. 2. October 1893 (consists of 5 movements) Mahler conducts,

Hamburg. 3. March 1896 (consists of 4 movements) Mahler conducts, Berlin.Performance Time: 50 – 60 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 4 Flutes, 4 Oboes, 4 Clarinets, 3 Fagots

Brasses/ 7 Horns, 5 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, 1 TubaPercussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, 1 Bass drum, Cymbals, Tam-

tam, TriangleStrings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Harp

Mahler quotes some motifs from his composition and others for this symphony.For example, two songs from “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen” composed in 1884, motif from “Hans und Grete”, and some motifs from “Eine Symphonie zu Dantes ‘Divina Commedia’ ” composed by Franz Liszt, and some motifs from “Parsifal” composed by Richard Wagner.　Mahler had his position as a music director at the Hungarian royal opera 1888. In 1889 November 20, Mahler conducted at Budapest philharmonic orchestra and premiered his First Symphony. At this time, his introduced it as “Symphonic poem consists of 2 parts”. But this concert was a failure. After few years, in 1893, Mahler revised this symphony and performed again in Hamburg. That concert was a great success. Mahler asked his fried Richard Strauss to perform his symphony, and then he arranged it at Weimar where Mahler could perform his symphony in 1894. The　audience’s review was divided rights in the two. One of the people who criticized severely said about movement of “Blumine” was as “Worthless thing”. After that in 1896 in Berlin, when Mahler performed it again he removed Blumine from this symphony and also removed sub title.

Structure:1. Langsam, Schleppend, wie ein Naturlaut - Im Anfang sehr gemächlich

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2. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell3. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen4. Stürmisch bewegt

Symphony No.2

Composing year: 1888 – 1894Premiere: 1. March 1895 (only 1, 2 and 3 movements) Mahler conducts,

Berlin Philharmonic. 2. December 1895, Mahler conducts, Berlin Philharmonic.Performance Time: 72 – 90 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 4 Flutes (4Piccolo), 4 Oboes, 2 Soprano

clarinets, 3 Clarinets, 4 Fagots

Brasses/ 10 Horns, 6 Trumpets, 4 Banda Trumpet, 4 Trombones,

1 TubaPercussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, Banda 1 set of Timpani,

Cymbals, Banda Cymbals, Tam-tam, 2 Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Banda Bass Drum, Glockenspiel, 3 Bell, Rute

Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, HarpKeyboards/ OrganVocal/ 1 Soprano, 1 Alto, Mixed Chorus

Mahler spent 7 years to complete his second symphony. He gave unification characteristics deserving admiration between five movements. Each movement has great match both of musical and atmosphere. However, some of them were composed independently. Mahler started to compose first movement “Todtenfeier” in January 1888, and completed it at Prague in September 1888. In 1893 Mahler spent his summer time in Steinbach where he resumed composing second symphony and “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”. Then he completed “Andante (became

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second movement)” and “Scherzo (became third movement)”. In 1894 Mahler decided to choose that with chorus should be in Finale when he attended a funeral service for Hans von Bulow.

This symphony expresses his thought about “Death” and the theme of “Resurrection” wonderfully.

Structure:1. Allegro Maestoso (funeral march)2. Andante Moderato3. Scherzo (with quietly flowing movement)4. Primeval light (Wunderhorn song)5. Finale (In the tempo of scherzo)

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Symphony No.3

Composing year: 1895 – 1896Premiere: 1. November 1896 (only 2 movement) Authur Nikish conducts,

Berlin Philharmonic. 2. March 1897 (only 2, 3 and 6 movements), Felix Weingartner

conducts, Imperial court orchestra. 3. June 1902, in Krefeld, Mahler conductsPerformance Time: 95 – 106 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 4 Flutes (4Piccolo), 4 Oboes, 2 Soprano

clarinets, 3 Clarinets, 4 Fagots

Brasses/ 8 Horns, 1 Post horn (banda) 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones,

1 TubaPercussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, Bass Drum, 2 Snare Drum,

Bass Drum with Cymbal, Cymbal, Tambourine, Triangle, tom-tom, Glockenspiel, Tubular Bells

Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, 2 HarpsKeyboards/ OrganVocal/ 1 Alto, Child chorus, Female Chorus

This symphony is his longest piece. At first, Mahler composed this symphony as “Program Music”. For example, “Pan Awakes, Summer Marches In” on the 1st movement, “What the Flowers in the Meadow Tell Me” on the 2nd movement, etc. But finally he removed all of these names. However, Mahler would express “Nature” on his third symphony. Once Mahler said, he

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already composed for all of the beautiful scenery from his house where built in Steinbach Austria 1894.Mahler originally envisioned a seventh movement “What the Child Tells

Me”, but he dropped this and using instead as the last movement of Symphony no.4.At the Opening, eight Horns start to be played as first theme of unison. It

sounds like Army march which he used to listen this kind of melody in Jihlava (Czech Republic) when he was child. Mahler quoted a melody from his works “Lieder unt Gesänge aus der

Jugendzeit” on the Third movement.At the Fourth movement, an alto singer sings one passage from “Also

sprach Zarathustra” by Freidrich ｇ Wilhelm Nietzsche.The Fifth movement, “Es sungen drei Engel”, is one of Mahler’s “Des

Knaben Wunderhorn” songs by a children’s choir imitating bells and a female chorus join the alto solo.The Finale begins very softly with a broad d-major chorale melody, which

slowly builds to a loud and majestic conclusion culminating on repeated D major chords with bold statements on the timpani.

Structure:1. Kräftig. Entschieden (Strong and decisive)2. Tempo di Menuetto3. Comodo (Scherzandog)4. Sehr langsam-Misterioso5. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (Cheerful in tempo and cheeky in

expression)6. Langsam-Ruhevoll-Empfunden ｇ (Slowly, tranquil, deeply felt)

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Symphony No.4

Composing year: 1899 - 1900Premiere: November 1901, Munich, Mahler conducts Munchner

PhilharmonikerPerformance Time: 50 – 58 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 4 Flutes, 3 Oboes,

3 Clarinets, 3 FagotsBrasses/ 4 Horns, 3 TrumpetsPercussions/ a set of Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Tam-tam,

Bass Drum, Glockenspiel, BellStrings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, HarpVocal/ 1 Soprano

Mahler began to concentrate on his conducting activity rather than composing after complicated his third symphony, since he became a regular conductor at the post of Vienna Hofoper in 1897. However he tried to compose his fourth symphony in summer holiday in 1899 and 1990. This symphony seems like “Classical Symphony”, because Mahler stopped writing down the titles for each movement and any explanations from this symphony.This symphony is one of his shorter symphonies. For example, brass is consisting only horns and trumpets (usual, trombones and tuba) Mahler composed “Das himmlische Leben ｇ” as a free-standing piece in 1892. Several years later he considered using the song in the fifth and seventh movement, the finale, of his Third symphony. He eventually decided

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not to include it in that work and instead made the song the goal and source of his Fourth symphony.

Structure:1. Bedächtig, nicht eilen (Moderately, not rushed) (Sonata Form)2. In gemächlicher Bewegung, ohne Hast (Leisurely moving, without haste)

(Scherzo & Trio)3. Ruhevoll, poco adagio (Peacefully, somewhat slowly) (Theme &

Variations)4. Sehr behaglich (Very comfortably) (Strophic)

Symphony No.5

Composing year: 1901 - 1902Premiere: October 1904, Mahler conducts Gürzenich-Orchester KölnPerformance Time: 60 – 75 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 4 Flutes, 3 Oboes,

3 Clarinets, 3 FagotsBrasses/ 6 Horns, 4 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 TubaPercussions/ a set of Timpani, Glockenspiel, Cymbals, Bass

Drum, Snare Drum, Tam-tam, Triangle, Holzklapper

Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Harp

　Since this Fifth symphony till Seventh one, Mahler composed as “Instrumental Symphonies”. However he still quoted some motif from several Songs, for example “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” as well for these symphonies. One biggest event of this time for Mahler’s life was that he met and married with Alma Schindler in spring 1902.

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Mahler started his fourth season of Vienna Hofoper, but he left the position of the conductor of Vienna Philharmonic 1901. Nowadays this fifth symphony is one of most popular works of his symphonies since this fourth movement “Adagietto” is used for Visconti’s film “Death in Venice”.

Structure:1. Trauermarsch (funeral march). (C sharp minor)2. Stürmisch bewegt, mit größter Vehemenz (Moving stormily, with the

greatest vehemence) (A minor)3. Scherzo. ( D major) 4. Adagietto. (F major)5. Rondo-Finale. (D major)

Symphony No.6

Composing year: 1903 - 1904Premiere: May 1906, Essen, Mahler conductsPerformance Time: 76 – 88 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 1 piccolo, 4 Flutes, 4 Oboes, 1 English horn

4 Clarinets, 1 Bass clarinet, 4 Fagottos, 1 Contrafagotto

Brasses/ 8 Horns, 6 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, 1 TubaPercussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, Bass Drum, Snare Drum,

Cymbals, Triangle, Tam-tam, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Rute, Cowbell, Sleigh bell, Bell, Hammer

Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, 2 Harps Keyboard/ Celesta

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Mahler sometimes referred this Sixth symphony to as the “Tragic” symphony. This symphony has only the instruments, no choir, no vocals, like as fifth and next seventh symphonies. Some rare percussion was added for this symphony, one is Cowbell and the Hammer is used for symbol of Destiny. Mahler wrote the Hammer hits three times in last movement in his first score, after he removed the last hit from it.There is some controversy over the order of the two (second and third)

movements. First, Mahler decided as the scherzo second and the slow movement third. But when Mahler began rehearsals for the work’s first performance, during this rehearsal he replaced second and third. However when Mahler had a premier concert for this symphony in Vienna, he replaced again as third and second.

Structure:Today there are many recordings both of orders.1. Allegro energico, ma non troppo2 (or 3). Andante moderato3 (or 2). Scherzo. Wuchtig 4. Finale. Sostenuto – Allogro moderato – Allegro energico

Symphony No.7

Composing year: 1904 - 1905Premiere: September 1908, Prague, Mahler conducts Ceska FilharmoniePerformance Time: 72 – 83 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 1 piccolo, 4 Flutes, 3 Oboes, 1 English horn

1 Soprano Clarinet, 3 Clarinets, 1 Bass clarinet, 3 Fagottosg, 1 Contrafagotto

Brasses/ 1 Tenorhorn, 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 TubaPercussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, Bass Drum, Snare Drum,

Tambourine, Cymbals, Triangle, Tam-tam, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Rute, Bell

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Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, 2 Harps,1 Guitar, 1 Mandolin

This Seventh symphony is sometimes referred to by the title “Song of the Night”, but this title was not by Mahler’s own title. However he wrote “Night Music” (Nachmusik) on both of second and fourth movements. He used some rare instruments also in this symphony. The Tenorhorn is played on the first movement and the Guitar and the Mandolin are played on the fourth movement. In forth movement Mahler made like a chamber music effects marvelously at the place of the mandolin and the guitar. The last movement is all the time going on as cheerful atmosphere to the end. This is opposite way to the previous symphony no.6.

Structure:1. Langsam – Allegro risoluto, ma non troppo (E minor, beginning B minor)2. Nachtmusik, Allegro moderato. Molto moderato (Andante) (C minor)3. Scherzo. Shadowy, Flowing but not too fast4. Nachtmusik, Andante amoroso ( F-major)5. Rondo-Finale.(C major)

Symphony No.8

Composing year: 1906 - 1907Premiere: September 1910, Munich, Mahler conducts Munich FilharmoniePerformance Time: 80 – 85 minutes.

Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ more than 2 Piccolos, 4 Flutes, 4 Oboes, 1 English horn, more than 2 Soprano Clarinets, 3 Clarinets, 1 Bass clarinet, 4 Fagottos, 1 Contrafagotto

Brasses/ 8 Horns, 4 Trumpets, 4 Trombones, 1 Tuba

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Percussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Triangle, Tam-tam, Glockenspiel, Bell

Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, 2 Harps, MandolinsKeyboard/ Organ, Piano, Celesta, HarmoniumBanda/ 4 Trumpets, 3 TrombonesVocal/ 3 Sopranos, 2 Altos, 1 Tenor, Baritone, 2 Mixed Choirs,

Children’s Choir

The symphony no. 8 is the largest symphony of his works. It is often called the “Symphony of a Thousand”, although the work is often performed with fewer than a thousand. But Mahler did not name it himself. It was named as “Show Business” by the promoter for premier concert in Munich 1910. Mahler wrote a letter to his friend Willem Mengelberg (Dutch Conductor) “This is the best of my work I ever had, and very unique as content and as form, there are no other examples, so it is not possible to explain by any words. It is already man’s not voice but the universe around which it operates, and is the sun itself”.And other’s is “The symphonies written by me until now were only preludes of this symphony. Although I have treated the subjective tragedy with the old word, this symphony is a source of great joy”. As from these comments, he had very big confidence to this work.

The Eighth Symphony is two parts combine the sacred text of the 9th century Latin hymn Veni creator spiritus with the secular text from the closing passages from Goethe’s 19th century dramatic poem “Faust”.

Structure: Part 1. Veni creator spiritus Part 2. Closing scene from Goethe’s Faust

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Symphony No.9

Composing year: 1907 - 1908Premiere: November 1911, Munich, Mahler conducts Munich FilharmonikerPerformance Time: 57 – 70 minutes.Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 1 piccolo, 3 Flutes, 3 Oboes, 1 Soprano

Clarinet, 3 Clarinets, 1 Bass clarinet, 3 FagottosBrasses/ 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 TubaPercussions/ Timpani, Bass Drum, Tambourine, Cymbals,

Triangle, Tam-tam, GlockenspielStrings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, 2 Harps, 1 Mandolin

The Ninth Symphony by Mahler was written between 1908 and 1909 was the last symphony that he completed.Mahler died in May 1911, without ever hearing his Ninth Symphony

performed. The ending is usually interpreted as his conscious farewell to the world, as it was composed following the death of his beloved daughter Maria Anna in 1907 and the diagnosis of his fatal heart disease. However this notion is often disputed, because Mahler was spending a heavy schedule during this time. Last year 1908, he completed his work “Das Lied von der Erde” in summer, then did a premier concert of his Seventh symphony in Prague, after that he went to United States and worked at the Metropolitan Opera in New York until spring season 1909. In summer, he conducted his Seventh symphony again in Amsterdam, and started to compose his Ninth symphony in Dolomiten, then back to United States and conducted New York Philharmonic for 46 concerts on tour, and then he completed his Ninth symphony in New York. Many Mahler interpreters have been moved to speak with similar profundity about the work as follows,“It expresses an extraordinary love of the earth, for Nature” by Alban Berg (1885 – 1935 Austria, Composer)

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“It is music coming from another world, it is coming from eternity” by Herbert von Karajan (1908 – 1989 Austria, Conductor)“It is terrifying, and paralyzing, as the strands of sound disintegrate… in ceasing, we lose it all. But in letting go, we have gained everything” by Leonard Bernstein“I believe it to be not only his last but also his greatest achievement” by Otto Klemperer

Structure:1. Andante comodo (D major)2. Im Tempo eines gemachlichen Landlers. Etwas tappisch und sehr derb

(C major)3. Rondo – Burleske, Allegro assai. Sehr trotzig (A minor)4. Adagio. Sehr langram und noch zuruckhaltend (D flat major)

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Bibliography

Shibata Minao - 17.06.2010 Gustav Mahler - Iwanami Shoten, ISBN978-4006021696

Kim Seikyo & Tamaki Masayuki – 16.12.2011 Mahler’s Symphonies – Koudansha ISBN978-4-06-288132-6

Constantin Floros – 02.1997 Gustav Mahler: The Symphonies – Amadeus Pr; Pbk ISBN978-1574670257

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Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911)

1860- Born in the village of Kalischt, in Bohemia, in what was then the Austrian Empire, now Kalisteg in the Czech Republic.Then his family moved to nearby Iglau where Mahler grew up.

1875-1878 studied at the Vienna Conservatory. 1880- Composed “Das klagende Lied”1883- Conductor, Kassel sees Parsifal in Bayreuth1885- Composed “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen”1888- Composed “Symphony No.1”1891- 1st Conductor, Hamburg, until 1897. Scandinavia trip1892- Guest performances in London1894- Composed “Symphony No.2”1896- Composed “Symphony No.3”1897- Became a Catholic. Director, Vienna Hofoper, until 19071899- Composed “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”1900- Composed “Symphony No.4”. Paris Tour with Vienna Philharmonic1901- Engagement to Alma Schindler1902- Marriage to Alma Schindler. Composed “Symphony No.5”. Daughter

Maria was born1904- Composed ”Symphony No.6”. Composed “Kindertotenlieder”.

Daughter Anna was born1905- Composed “Symphony No.7” 1906- Composed “Symphony No.8”1907- Daughter Maria died. Last performance in Vienna1908- Conductor, Metropolitan Opera in New York, until 19111909- Composed “Das Lied von der Erde”. Conductor, New York Philharmonic1910- Composed “Symphony No.9”. Began the “Symphony No.10”.

Meeting with Freud1911- Last concert in New York. May 18, died in Vienna

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