Mahler - 1st Symphony (piano solo)

Gustav Mahler - 1st Symphony (piano solo) with score
Arranged and performed by Iain Farrington

Published by Aria Editions: https://www.ariaeditions.org/store/c7/Mahler%2C_Gustav.html

http://www.iainfarrington.com

1. Langsam. Schleppend
2. Kräftig bewegt
3. Feierlich und gemessen
4. Stürmisch bewegt

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) composed his 1st Symphony in 1887-8 while he was a conductor at the Leipzig Opera House. It was premiered in Budapest in 1889, and was originally described as a symphonic poem, with the subtitle Titan, a reference to a Jean Paul novel. There was also an additional movement after the opening movement, known as Blumine, which Mahler removed in 1894. For the first performances, Mahler wrote programme notes that acted as a guide to the work:

Part I: From the Days of Youth: "Flower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces".
1. Frühling und kein Ende - Spring without End. The introduction depicts the awakening of nature from a long winter's sleep
2. Blumine – Flowers (Andante)
3. Mit vollen Segeln - In Full Sail (Scherzo)

Part II: Commedia humana – Human Comedy

4. Gestrandet! (Totenmarsch in Callots Manier) - Aground! Funeral March in the manner of Callot. 'The Hunter's Funeral Procession' in which forest animals accompany a dead hunter's coffin to his grave
5. Dall'inferno al Paradiso – From Hell to Paradise. The sudden despairing cry of a deeply wounded heart

Mahler eventually dropped the subtitle and programme notes, preferring a piece of 'absolute' music without other references. However, they give a clear picture of Mahler's immense vision of the symphony, of nature and human experience. For the first and third movements he borrowed material from his own 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen', and he was to use other existing songs in his next three symphonies.

An arrangement for solo piano of Mahler's work brings the music close to its compositional origins. In each one of his composing 'huts', Mahler had a piano at his disposal. His sketches are often on two or three staves of music, and can be read directly on the piano. Mahler often played his latest works on the piano to friends and colleagues, and his early training as a pianist left him with a good virtuoso technique. By performing the music in this way, it enabled the first listeners to hear the melodies and harmonies unadorned.

Mahler also 'recorded' some of his music onto piano rolls: the first movement of the 5th symphony, the last movement of the 4th symphony and several songs. These demonstrate Mahler's 'orchestral' piano technique, full in texture and tone, carrying the general sweep and drama of the music.

This solo piano arrangement of Symphony No. 1 is not just a literal transcription of the notes onto two staves, but a transformation into pianistic texture of the full sonic landscape. Hearing Mahler's music in this way allows us to take in the content as 'pure' music. In Mahler's lifetime, piano duet versions of the Symphonies were published, but very few for solo piano. This arrangement allows one player the opportunity to perform and study them.

Видео Mahler - 1st Symphony (piano solo) канала Iain Farrington