Category: Mahler: Commentary on His Music

Symphony No. 7 In B Minor/E Minor – Introduction

Listening Guide   The Work Occasionally, the subtitle The Song of the Night has been appended to the Seventh Symphony, presumably relating to the two movements (the second and fourth) that Mahler entitled Nachtmusik. However, Mahler did not append a subtitle to the symphony. Regarding the symphony’s principal key, some have referred to it as… Continue reading Symphony No. 7 In B Minor/E Minor – Introduction

Symphony No. 6 In A Minor – Fourth Movement

Listening Guide   The Work Tempo: Allegro Moderato (Sostenuto); allegro energico Principal key: A minor with various subsidiary keys (C minor, D major and minor, F-sharp and B-flat major, A major, F minor, E-flat major and G major and minor) Time Signature: alla breve opening leads to the principal 4/4 meter Form: Extended sonata form with… Continue reading Symphony No. 6 In A Minor – Fourth Movement

Symphony No. 6 In A Minor – Third Movement

Listening Guide   The Work Tempo: Andante Moderato Key: E-flat major (second theme in G minor, then in E minor and A minor) with the Development in E minor and 2 episodes, the first in E minor then E major, the second in C major.Time Signature: 4/4 Form: Rondo form. (ABA’B’A’Coda)

Symphony No.6 In A Minor – Second Movement

Listening Guide   The Work Tempo: Wuchtig (weighty or powerful) (3/8 ausschlagen ohne zu schleppen) (3/8 meter not too dragging).Key: A minor (First trio in F major and Second trio in D major)Time Signature: 3/8 (numerous meter shifts throughout the trios)Form: Scherzo with two Trios (ABA’B’AACoda)

Symphony No. 6 In A Minor – First Movement

Listening Guide   The Work Tempo:Allegro energico, ma non troppo. Heftig, aber markig (Vigorous, but emphatic). Key: A minor (second theme in F major; recapitulation in A major with the second theme in D major) Time Signature: 4/4 Form: Modified Sonata form

Symphony No. 6 In A Minor – Introduction

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… Continue reading Symphony No. 6 In A Minor – Introduction

Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor – 5th Movement

Listening Guide   The Work Tempo: Allegro. Allegro giocoso.Principal Key: D major.Time Signature: 2/2 Form: Although Mahler used the term Arondo in the title of this movement, its structure is hardly that of a traditional rondo. Some commentators consider the movement to be in sonata-form, but there are several reasons to doubt the efficacy of… Continue reading Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor – 5th Movement