Symphony No. 5 (Mahler)

The Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor by Gustav Mahler was written in 1901 and 1902 mostly during the summer months at Mahler's cottage at Maiernigg.

The piece is scored for a large orchestra made up of four flutes (two doubling piccolo), three oboes (one doubling cor anglais), three clarinets (one doubling bass clarinet), three bassoons (one doubling double bassoon); six French horns, four trumpets, three trombones, tuba; four timpani, cymbals, bass drum, side drum, triangle, glockenspiel, tamtam, wood clapper, harp and strings.

The piece is generally regarded as Mahler's most conventional symphony up to that point, but from such an unconventional composer it still had many peculiarities. It almost has a four movement structure, as the first two can easily be viewed as essentailly a whole. The symphony also ends with a Rondo, in the classical style. Some peculiarities are the funeral march that opens the piece, and the Adagietto for harp and strings that interrupts the booming score.

The work is in five movements:

1. Trauermarsch (Death March)
2. Stürmisch bewegt, mit grösster Vehemenz (Moving stormily, with the greatest vehemence)
3. Scherzo
4. Adagietto
5. Rondo-Finale

The first two movements constitute Part I of the symphony (as designated by Mahler in the score), the long Scherzo constitutes Part II, and the last two movements constitute Part III.

The adagietto is sometimes heard alone. It was used liberally in Luchino Visconti's film, Death in Venice.

Premieres

• World premiere: October 18, 1904, Cologne - conducted by Mahler
• United States premiere: March 24, 1905, Cincinnati - conducted by Frank van der Stucken
• English premiere:
  • Of Adagietto only: August 31, 1909, London - conducted by Henry Wood during a Proms concert
  • Of complete work: October 21, 1945, London - London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Heinz Unger