Gustav Mahler
Symphonies
Written Work
Sib 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
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 – 1888
Premiere:
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 Tuba
Percussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, 1 Bass drum, Cymbals, Tam-tam,
Triangle
Strings/ 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
2. Kräftig bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell
3. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
4. Stürmisch bewegt
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Symphony No.2
Composing year: 1888 – 1894
Premiere:
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 Tuba
Percussions/ 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, Harp
Keyboards/ Organ
Vocal/ 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 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.
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This symphony expresses his thought about “Death” and the theme of
“Resurrection” wonderfully.
Structure:
1. Allegro Maestoso (funeral march)
2. Andante Moderato
3. 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 – 1896
Premiere:
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 conducts
Performance 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 Tuba
Percussions/ 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 Harps
Keyboards/ Organ
Vocal/ 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 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.
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At the Fourth movement, an alto singer sings one passage from “Also sprach
Zarathustra” by Freidrichｇ 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 Menuetto
3. Comodo (Scherzandog)
4. Sehr langsam-Misterioso
5. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (Cheerful in tempo and cheeky in
expression)
6. Langsam-Ruhevoll-Empfundenｇ (Slowly, tranquil, deeply felt)
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Symphony No.4
Composing year: 1899 - 1900
Premiere: November 1901, Munich, Mahler conducts Munchner Philharmoniker
Performance Time: 50 – 58 minutes.
Instrumentation: Wood Winds/
4 Flutes, 3 Oboes,
3 Clarinets, 3 Fagots
Brasses/ 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets
Percussions/ a set of Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Tam-tam, Bass
Drum, Glockenspiel, Bell
Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Harp
Vocal/ 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 Lebenｇ” 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 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)
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Symphony No.5
Composing year: 1901 - 1902
Premiere: October 1904, Mahler conducts Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
Performance Time: 60 – 75 minutes.
Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 4 Flutes, 3 Oboes,
3 Clarinets, 3 Fagots
Brasses/ 6 Horns, 4 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 Tuba
Percussions/ 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.
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)
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Symphony No.6
Composing year: 1903 - 1904
Premiere: May 1906, Essen, Mahler conducts
Performance 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 Tuba
Percussions/ 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
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 troppo
2 (or 3). Andante moderato
3 (or 2). Scherzo. Wuchtig
4.
Finale. Sostenuto – Allogro moderato – Allegro energico
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Symphony No.7
Composing year: 1904 - 1905
Premiere: September 1908, Prague, Mahler conducts Ceska Filharmonie
Performance 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 Tuba
Percussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, Bass Drum, Snare Drum,
Tambourine,
Cymbals,
Triangle,
Tam-tam,
Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Rute, Bell
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 fast
4. Nachtmusik, Andante amoroso ( F-major)
5. Rondo-Finale.(C major)
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Symphony No.8
Composing year: 1906 - 1907
Premiere: September 1910,
Munich, Mahler conducts Munich Filharmonie
Performance 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
Percussions/ 2 sets of Timpani, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Triangle,
Tam-tam, Glockenspiel, Bell
Strings/ Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, 2 Harps, Mandolins
Keyboard/ Organ, Piano, Celesta, Harmonium
Banda/ 4 Trumpets, 3 Trombones
Vocal/ 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.
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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 - 1908
Premiere: November 1911, Munich, Mahler conducts Munich Filharmoniker
Performance Time: 57 – 70 minutes.
Instrumentation: Wood Winds/ 1 piccolo, 3 Flutes, 3 Oboes, 1 Soprano Clarinet, 3
Clarinets, 1 Bass clarinet,
3 Fagottos
Brasses/ 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 Tuba
Percussions/
Timpani,
Bass
Drum,
Tambourine,
Cymbals,
Triangle, Tam-tam, Glockenspiel
Strings/ 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 Bayreuth
1885- Composed “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen”
1888- Composed “Symphony No.1”
1891- 1st Conductor, Hamburg, until 1897. Scandinavia trip
1892- Guest performances in London
1894- Composed “Symphony No.2”
1896- Composed “Symphony No.3”
1897- Became a Catholic. Director, Vienna Hofoper, until 1907
1899- Composed “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”
1900- Composed “Symphony No.4”. Paris Tour with Vienna Philharmonic
1901- Engagement to Alma Schindler
1902- Marriage to Alma Schindler. Composed “Symphony No.5”. Daughter Maria
was born
1904- Composed ”Symphony No.6”. Composed “Kindertotenlieder”. Daughter Anna
was born
1905- Composed “Symphony No.7”
1906- Composed “Symphony No.8”
1907- Daughter Maria died. Last performance in Vienna
1908- Conductor, Metropolitan Opera in New York, until 1911
1909- Composed “Das Lied von der Erde”. Conductor, New York Philharmonic
1910- Composed “Symphony No.9”. Began the “Symphony No.10”. Meeting with
Freud
1911- Last concert in New York. May 18, died in Vienna
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