Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredrik
Mahler 3rd Symphony - Longest symphony in the world (2 hours long)
From Bruno Walter's (famous Mahler conductor) memoir of Mahler: "I arrived by steamer on a glorious July day; Mahler was there on the jetty to meet me, and despite my protests, insisted on carrying my bag until he was relieved by a porter. As on our way to his house I looked up to the Höllengebirge, whose sheer cliffs made a grim background to the charming landscape, he said: 'You don't need to look — I have composed all this away!" The rockface became the introductory theme of the Third Symphony, the unison chant for eight horns, which he dubbed in one sketch "What the rocky mountain tells me."
Last movement - Finale : MySpaceTV Videos: Mahler 3rd Symphony - Finale by Gustav Mahler |
Mahler's Symphony No. 3 is a unusual symphony not only because of it's length, but because it also has 6 movements!
The Symphony No. 3 in D minor by Gustav Mahler was written between 1893 and 1896. It is his longest piece and usually considered to be the longest symphony in the standard repertoire, with a typical performance lasting around ninety to one hundred minutes.
The work has six movements:
1. Kräftig entschieden (Strong and decisive)
2. Tempo di Menuetto (In the tempo of a minuet)
3. Comodo (Scherzando) (Comfortably, like a scherzo)
4. Sehr langsam--Misterioso (Very slowly, mysteriously)
5. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (Cheerful in tempo and bold in expression)
6. Langsam--Ruhevoll--Empfunden (Slowly, tranquil, deeply felt)