Gustav Mahler ~ Symphony No. 4 in G major (1901) ~ iii. Ruhevoll {Poco adagio} ≈ Principal theme

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≈ History ≈
{based on materials from BBC.co.uk}
The late-Romantic Fourth Symphony by Gustav Mahler {1860-1911} was the last of his symphonic works closely linked to "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" {"The Boy's Magic Horn"), an anthology of folk verses from the early 19th century that attracted the composer with its blend of worldliness and spirituality. Poems from the collection feature prominently in Symphonies No. 2 {1894} and No. 3 {1896}. In fact, Mahler originally planned to end the latter work with an elaboration of the song "Das himmlische Leben" {"Heavenly Life"} which he had written in 1892. But as the extensive No. 3 took shape, he realized that the song wouldn't fit with the rest of the work and ultimately decided on a separate setting for the piece. Mahler began writing the rest of this composition in the summer of 1899. He finished No. 4 in most essentials the following year and completed its orchestration in the spring of 1901. It is hard to believe nowadays that such a lovely work encountered hostility by both audiences and critics but the November 25, 1901 Munich premiere was booed and condemned as baffling and tasteless. As one reviewer wrote, "a medley of symphonic cabaret acts". Berlin and Vienna were equally caustic.
≈ Music ≈
No. 4 is the shortest of Mahler's symphonies, with a reduced orchestra and a style consciously archaic. Thus, it is an ideal introduction to Mahler's particular art. The final Lied presents a simple, child-like view of Heaven, and this gentle naivety pervades the whole work. Mahler carefully develops the music throughout the entire symphony most notably attaining one of his finest slow movements in the central Ruhevoll - an extended series of variations {with a slightly varied brief repeat of the theme and a full, "proper" variation separated by two languished tempo di mezzos}. In the present case I ultimately decided to focus only on the principal theme of the Ruhevoll, as I find that the perfection achieved by Mahler in the initial statement of the main theme is so complete that it somewhat undermines all the fine detail that follows. I have to admit that I have developed a rather fragmentary perception of any musical work, focusing on what I consider to be the strongest material. Mahler's fairly gargantuan symphonies certainly fall "victim" to this personal trait. For me, the ethereal quality of Mahler's great adagio is fully comparable to the purity of Bach's principal melody for the Goldberg Variations, as both pieces are well-developed, self-contained musical moments that set a high standard for everything that comes next. We open with a subdued presentation of the theme by the principle cello over the suspended lines of the remaining cellos at times reinforced by violas. A constant yet stunningly dynamic bass line runs through the entire section, closely following the breadth of the music {0:08}. Mahler did not provide a detailed program for Symphony No. 4, though a wide range of interpretations - "a mother's sad face, constantly loving" or "a child asleep in death carved in stone atop a tomb" - are available. I tend to view the main theme as a symbolic recollection of a past peace that has been lost, thus, I frequently find myself tearing up when I listen to the theme. In an unusual but welcome gesture the material following the presentation of the theme serves both as a continuation {cello} and an abbreviated variation {second violins} on the initial series of phrases {1:18}. The resulting luminous duettino is cut short by a reprise of the second violins' statement from the oboe over the gradually heightening lines of the entire string section {1:52} culminating in a magnificent suspended sigh for the violins and a descending series of notes from the bassoons|horns|cellos {2:19}. What follows is a stunning ascent of the higher strings the instruments gradually passing from their enraptured whisper to a gradual, somehow melancholic descent to earth {2:46}. The bassoons delicately follow the violins|violas in a gentle crescendo, effectively completing the section {3:23}. The whole theme is completed with a simple exchange of the subdued chords from flutes|clarinets and the cello {4:11}. The theme originally has no conventional resolution, each time passing directly to the next section, simply ending with the transitional horn call {4:36}. All in all, one certainly can sympathize with Mahler when he wrote that the movement "laughs and cries at the same time".
≈ Score ≈
The complete score of No. 4 can be easily found on IMSLP:
javanese.imslp....
≈ Recording ≈
The 1984-91 EMI set of the 10 Mahler symphonies as performed by the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne under Gary Bertini features a wonderfully warm performance of No. 4 that serves as a highlight of a dedicated presentation of the composer's works.
Hope you'll enjoy =)!

Пікірлер: 59

@kolosopiedargyl Ай бұрын

Découvert dans "Le Maître de Musique" en 1988.. Gustav Mahler

@fritzkreisler3902 7 жыл бұрын

Es gibt kaum eine Musik, die so innig ist wie diese!

@Marie-ClaudeMONTOURCY-lw8ku 3 ай бұрын

On ferme les yeux et c’est l’extase, le recueillement. Une merveille. Je l’écoute très souvent et je repense au merveilleux film d’Agnès Varda : le rendez-vous avec quelqu’un.

@vanessazographos1570 Жыл бұрын

So relaxing and peaceful

@francinejozek5193 5 жыл бұрын

vraiment merveilleux à écouter, grandiose

@lunnouxhinds8464 4 жыл бұрын

He is a Fantastic composer. Tere are so many but this composer is in the top 20. Love him.

@kerstindeinbock3456 3 жыл бұрын

So wunderschön!

@geraldnorman9437 2 жыл бұрын

Incredible warm colors.

@geraldnorman9437 2 жыл бұрын

My heart is warmly joyous.

@vincemajor3275 7 жыл бұрын

stunning as always !

@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930 6 жыл бұрын

Simplemente maravilloso..¡¡

@lawrencequaedvlieg4165 5 жыл бұрын

Incredible, beautiful piece of Gustav Mahler.

@diegorojas3313 7 ай бұрын

Es preciosa.

@waldemarrodrigues1084 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful !!!!

@alistairlobo5009 8 жыл бұрын

So beautiful I cried

@bio_arcicgaming845 3 жыл бұрын

How it’s only music

@dollicans 3 жыл бұрын

@@bio_arcicgaming845 music can mean so much to people, its not only music its almost like freedom.

@belkismartin7019 9 жыл бұрын

Muy bella!!!🌿

@zeon1966 5 жыл бұрын

Terrific!

@p70425 4 жыл бұрын

Meraviglioso!!!!

@PiroozAzDirooz 8 жыл бұрын

SPECTACULAR!

@belkismartin7019 9 жыл бұрын

Maravillosa...MARIA Jesús. Feliz descanso🌿.

@anon-rf5sx 9 жыл бұрын

Heavenly music

@dhoulkarnain 10 жыл бұрын

beautiful

@stellario82 9 жыл бұрын

this has always been the music I dreamt to be the one for my funeral, so peaceful, so quite: "in pace factus sum, in pace reverto"

@Amelia4144 9 жыл бұрын

+stellario82 Do you remember one of the best films ever created like "Le maître de musique"?

@stellario82 9 жыл бұрын

I am afraid not, why?

@barbarab.361 6 жыл бұрын

I do not feel it like funeral music, but peaceful, calming and enlightening music

@oleflogger6828 4 жыл бұрын

@@barbarab.361 And, Barbara, I agree with you completely. I have a younger brother who asked me to recommend some classical music because all he knew was the Beatles. I recommended this Ruhevolle. He came back, seriously disappointed, and called it "too morose"!!!@#$% Can you imagine?