Symphony No. 3 (Mahler)
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The Symphony No. 3 in D minor by Gustav Mahler was written between 1893 and 1896. It is his longest piece, with a typical performance lasting around 95-100 minutes.
Contents
Orchestration
As usual of Mahler, the piece is written for a large orchestra, consisting of four flutes and piccolos, four oboes, a cor anglais, five clarinets (two in E-flat, and one B-flat alternating on a bass clarinet), four bassoons, contrabassoon, eight French horns, four trumpets, a post horn (which is usually substituted by a flugelhorn), four trombones, a tuba, two sets of timpani, a bass drum, cymbals, a tam-tam, a triangle, a snare drum, a rute, two glockenspiels, bells, a tambourine, two harps, an organ, violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.As in his Symphony No. 2, Mahler adds vocal forces to the later movements of the piece. The fourth movement is a song for alto, and the fifth movement adds a women's chorus and a boys' chorus.
Structure
The symphony, though somewhat 'un' -symphonic in nature, due to the extensive number of movements and their marked differences in character and construction, is a unique and uplifting piece of work. The opening movement, grotesque in its conception (much like the symphony itself) is wonderfully evocative of the primordial sleep of nature, slowly gathering itself into one of the most rousing orchestral marches of the 19th Century. It is in the finale, however, that Mahler reveals his true genius for stirring the soul. The construction of it is masterful, and the interplay of a developing chromatic harmony and sonorous string melody, developed and re-orchestrated with perfect grace and poise builds to a conclusion that, though seemingly overblown when heard in isolation, is, in the wider context of the symphony, both musically justified and emotionally overwhelming.In its final form, the work has six movements:
- Kräftig entschieden (Strong and decisive)
- Tempo di Menuetto (In the tempo of a minuet)
- Comodo (Scherzando) (Comfortably, like a scherzo)
- Sehr langsam--Misterioso (Very slowly, mysteriously)
- Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (Happy in tempo and bold in expression)
- Langsam--Ruhevoll--Empfunden (Slowly, tranquil, deeply felt)
- "Pan Awakes, Summer Marches In"
- "What the Flowers of the Meadow Tell Me"
- "What the Creatures of the Forest Tell Me"
- "What Man Tells Me"
- "What the Angels Tell Me"
- "What Love Tells Me"
There was originally a seventh movement, "What the Child Tells Me", but this was eventually dropped, becoming instead the last movement of the Symphony No. 4.
The third movement quotes extensively from Mahler's early song "Ablösung im Sommer". The fourth is a setting of Friedrich Nietzsche's "Midnight Song" from Also sprach Zarathustra, while the fifth, "Es sungen drei Engel", is one of Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn songs.
Text
Fourth Movement
Text from Friedrich Nietzsche's Also sprach Zarathustra: the "Midnight Song"
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Fifth Movement
Text from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
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Performance
The piece performed in concert less frequently than Mahler's other symphonies, due in part to its great length and the huge ensemble required. When it is performed, a short interval is sometimes taken between the first movement (which alone lasts around half an hour) and the rest of the piece. Despite this, it is a popular work and has been recorded by most major orchestras and conductors. One notable recording was made in quadraphonic stereo by the Utah Symphony under Maurice Abravanel in the acoustically-remarkable Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. The final movement was used as background music in one episode of the 1984 television series, "Call to Glory" and on an episode of the BBC's 'Coast' programme, during a description of the history of HMS Tamerair.The second movement of this work was arranged by Benjamin Britten for a smaller orchestra, a version published by Boosey and Hawkes in 1950.
Premieres
- Premiere of second, third and sixth movements only: 1897, Berlin, conducted by Felix Weingartner.
- Premiere of the complete symphony: June 9, 1902, Krefeld, conducted by the composer.
- American premiere: February 8, 1922, New York City, conducted by Willem Mengelberg.
- English premiere (BBC broadcast): November 29, 1947, BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Adrian Boult.
- English concert premiere: February 28, 1961, St Pancras, conducted by Bryan Fairfax.
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