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MAHLER – Adagietto (from the 5th Symphony, 1901-02) – 8 CELLOS or CELLO ORCHESTRA

Other Identification:
The Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler was composed in 1901 and 1902, mostly during the summer months at Mahler’s holiday cottage at Maiernigg. Among its most distinctive features are the trumpet solo that opens the work with the same rhythmic motive as the opening of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, the horn solos in the third movement and the so frequently performed ‘Adagietto’.

The musical canvas and emotional scope of the work, which lasts over an hour, are huge. The symphony is sometimes described as being in the key of C♯ minor since the first movement is in this key (the finale, however, is in D major). Mahler objected to the label: “From the order of the movements (where the usual first movement now comes second) it is difficult to speak of a key for the ‘whole Symphony’, and to avoid misunderstandings the key should best be omitted.”

Movements or sections:
The fourth movement may be considered Mahler’s most famous composition and is the most frequently performed of all his works. The British premiere of the complete Symphony No. 5 came 36 years after that of the Adagietto (conducted by Henry Wood at a Proms concert in 1909). It is said to represent Mahler’s love song to his wife Alma. According to a letter she wrote to Willem Mengelberg, the composer left a small poem. It lasts for approximately 10 minutes, and Mahler’s instruction is Sehr langsam (very slowly). Mahler and Mengelberg played it in about 7 minutes. Some conductors have taken tempos that extend it to nearly 12 minutes. Leonard Bernstein conducted it during the funeral Mass for Robert F. Kennedy at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Manhattan, on 8 June 1968, and he also briefly discusses this section along with the opening bars of the second movement in his Charles Eliot Norton lectures from 1973. It was used in the 1971 Luchino Visconti film ‘Death in Venice’.

After its premiere, Mahler is reported to have said, “Nobody understood it. I wish I could conduct the first performance fifty years after my death.”

Instrumentation: OCTET OF EIGHT CELLOS, OR A COMPLETE CELLO ORCHESTRA
Arranged by David Johnstone

This music is in 3 PDFs:
[1 – General Score
[2 – Cellos 1 to 4
[3 – Cellos 5 to 8

Approximate difficulty: Quite difficult !

The eight cello – or better still cello orchestra! – version of David Johnstone leaves no part or even single bar unaccounted for. The harp line is frequently shared between two cellos in pizzicato. This is a work for mature cello ensembles, and offers great rewards for patient practice of the textures. It is difficult but is certainly playable! A conductor should probably be considered for performances of more than eight cellos.

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Johnstone Music has been performed by orchestras and conservatories worldwide, earning international recognition in cello repertoire.

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