Listening Guide
The Work
Date(s) of composition: 1903-4; published by C. F. Kahnt Nachfolger, Leipzig (1906) in three editions (a full orchestral score, study score and a four-hand piano transcription by Alexander von Zemlinsky) were published, the second of which reversed the order of the middle movements from Scherzo-Andante to Andante-Scherzo and contained substantial revisions in the orchestration. The orchestration of the revised Critical Edition published in 1998 by the International Gustav Mahler Gesellschaft which contains numerous revisions from the original published versions based upon reported changes Mahler is claimed to have made in the score after performances.
Place(s) of composition: Maiernigg and Vienna
Premiere: Essen, 27 May 1905, Mahler conducting the Tonkünstlerfest of the Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein.
Orchestration: piccolo, 4 flutes, 4 oboes, English horn, clarinets in D and E-flat, 3 clarinets in A and B-flat, bass clarinet, 4 bassoons, contrabassoon, 8 horns, 6 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion (big drum, side drum, tam-tam, cymbals, triangle, glockenspiel, cow bells, deep bells, rute and hammer), xylophone, 2 harps, celesta and strings.
Performers: Vienna Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein
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Movements: 4 movements organized in modified traditional symphonic form:
1. Allegro energico, ma non troppo
{2. Scherzo (Wuchtig)} or Andante
{3. Andante} or Scherzo (Wuchtig)
4. Finale (Allegro moderato)