Gustav-Mahler.eu

Composed

Performances by Gustav Mahler

Versions

 

 

03-11-1909 First performance in Vienna. Conductor Ferdinand Lowe (1863-1925).

Publications

Ernst Eulenburg (and G. Bote, Berlin), Leipzig and Vienna, score Symphony No. 7.

Ernst Eulenburg (and G. Bode, Berlin), Leipzig and Vienna, score Symphony No. 7.

Ed. Bote (Berlin), score Symphony No. 7.

1910. Alfred Roller (1864-1935), the celebrated stage designer and frequent collaborator with Mahler at the Vienna State Opera (Hofoper, Wiener Staatsoper), was responsible for the designing the cover of the published score. He also designed the title page. The illustration shows the title page as it appears in the edition for piano made by the Italian composer Alfredo Casella (1883-1947) and published in 1910. 

Orchestration

Brass

  • Horn in F (4)
  • Tenorhorn in B♭ (used only at movement 1)
  • Trombone (3)
  • Trumpet in B♭ and F (3)
  • Tuba

Percussion

  • Bass Drum
  • Cowbells (used offstage in movement 2, & onstage in movements 2 and 5)
  • Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Rute (To be played on the shell of bass drum) (used only at movement 5)
  • Snare Drum (used only at movement 1)
  • Tam-tam
  • Tambourine (used only at movement 1)
  • Timpani
  • Triangle
  • Tubular bells (unpitched) (used only at movement 5)

Strings

  • Double Bass
  • Guitar (used only at movement 4)
  • Harp (2)
  • Mandolin (used only at movement 4)
  • Viola
  • Violin I
  • Violin II
  • Violoncello

Woodwinds

  • Bass clarinet in A and B♭
  • Bassoon (3)
  • Clarinet in A and B♭ (3)
  • Clarinet in E-flat
  • Contrabassoon
  • English Horn
  • Flute (4th flute doubling on piccolo 2) (4)
  • Oboe (3)
  • Piccolo

Mahler's specification of a 'Tenorhorn' in the scoring of this work has often caused confusion. In Britain, the name 'tenor horn' is often given to the instrument that in the US is called the alto horn (in E♭ or F); in Germany this (a contralto saxhorn) is known as the Althorn in E♭ or F, and is not the instrument requested by Mahler. Nor does Mahler intend a euphonium, which in German is called either 'Euphonium' or 'Baryton'. The German Tenorhorn is actually a B♭ instrument similar to the instrument known in Britain and the USA as the baritone horn.

Recordings

  • Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, 03-1985.