Mahler: Symphony No. 3 - An Analysis

Vince Sheehan explores the structure of this famous symphony, looking at each movement in detail. Musical illustrations are played both on the violin and piano. Numbers in brackets refer to bars/measures:
Mahler Symphony No. 3
Part 1
1. Exposition: Introduction, 1st Subject (27), 2nd Subject (132), 1st Subject (164), 2nd Subject (225), Codetta (362); Development (424); Recapitulation: Introduction (643), 1st Subject (671), 2nd Subject (737), Codetta (857); Coda (867)
Part 2
2. A; B (49); A1 (93); B1 (143); A2 (217); Coda (260)
3. A; B (69); A1 (121); B1 (211); A2 (229); C (256); A3 (347); B2 (432); Transition (466); C1 (485); Coda (529)
4. *Text: the pain and joy of human existence
Refrain; A (18); Interlude (57); Refrain (75); A1 (94); Coda (137)
5. *Text: the joy of forgiveness and universal salvation
Introduction; A (7); B (39); Transition (63); C (82); Coda (110)
6. A; B (41); Transition (92); A1 (107); Transition (124); C (132); A2 (252); Coda (308)

[@BrianPaick]

I'll be attending Mahler 3 with the Philadelphia Orchestra in a few weeks, and bought a copy of the score earlier today. With sharpened pencil in hand and Abbado/Lucerne in one half of the monitor and you in the other, there's no better way to spend a saturday evening!

[@vincentsheehan3193]

Have a great time!

[@samaritan29]

“Just imagine a work of such magnitude that it actually mirrors the whole world-one is, so to speak, only an instrument, played on by the universe. . . . My symphony will be something the like of which the world has never yet heard! . . . In it the whole of nature finds a voice.” As one of the grandest symphonies ever written, Mahler’s 3rd symphony truly does embrace the world of nature in every possible way. and that magnificent last movement "What Love Tells Me." with its profoundly heartfelt chorale (also influenced by the slow movement of beethoven's op 135).. great lecture and analysis (!)

[@vincentsheehan3193]

A great quote - thank you for commenting you clearly know the work well!

[@rexgaming2489]

The first movement is just an absolutely insane and incredible piece of music

[@mr-wx3lv]

When I first heard this work, I couldn't believe the length of the first movement. But it doesn't drag: there's enough material to fill it...

[@vincentsheehan3193]

Great comment - you’re absolutely right

[@davidwright8432]

Many thanks, Vincent. Using violin as well as piano to illustrate themes I find very helpful. As for other works to analyze: how about Bruckner 4 or 9 (or your favorite of his symphonies)?

[@vincentsheehan3193]

Thank you for commenting! I do have videos on both Bruckner 4 & 9 (as well as 3, 5, 6, 7 & 8). If you just look for my Bruckner playlist they should be there. Cheers!

[@sophovot5079]

damn, when the violin appeared out of nowhere

[@t0mcc]

Perhaps one of Mahler's greatest.

[@estel5335]

Literally me right after hearing any of his symphonies.

[@t0mcc]

@@estel5335 except the 8th ;)

[@q-tuber7034]

An excellent resource for understanding the structure of the first movement is Seth Monahan’s book “Mahler’s Symphonic Sonatas” (and related articles). Like some other Mahler movements, 3/I is constructed in a “rotational” form, where several different types of musical sound spaces follow one another several times, always in the same order. One of those musical sound spaces hosts the sonata form structure (the first appearance being the exposition, the second the development, and the third the recapitulation), while the others do not participate in the sonata structure at all. They are extended introductions to the sonata form sections, or act as signposts.

[@vincentsheehan3193]

Yes I’ve come across this before. Whilst I appreciate the almost forensic identification of the various motifs, ideas etc in the first movement which is helpful for closer study, I find his larger scale analysis with rotations etc unconvincing. For my ears at least, this movement as a whole is a large sonata form movement (with repeat of exposition written out & varied & the introduction included in the recapitulation).

[@TellarKnight]

A great analysis, thank you very much ! I was wondering if you have a favorite recording of this symphony... personally the best that I found is the one performed by WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln and conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

[@vincentsheehan3193]

My favourite recording is Bernstein & the New York Philharmonic (DG). I don’t know the Bychkov, so I should have a listen to it! Cheers

[@estel5335]

Would you mind dissecting Vaughan Williams' 5th Symphony? Happy Monday!

[@vincentsheehan3193]

Sure I could that - great piece!

[@vincentsheehan3193]

Vaughan Williams 5th uploaded now and I've name checked you at the end! Great suggestion