Programme Notes
GUSTAV MAHLER 1860-
SYMPHONY No 4 in G
Bedächtig, nicht eilen (Pensively, without hurrying)
In gemächlicher Bewegung, ohne Hast (Majestically, without haste)
Ruhevoll (Peacefully)
Sehr behaglich (Very leisurely)
Mahler's Fourth Symphony is yet another in the long line of masterpieces which were
misunderstood and even derided when first heard. Paradoxically, he hoped the brevity
and simplicity of this enchanting work, compared with his Second and Third symphonies,
would be favourably received by a public beginning to think of his music as grandiose,
unapproachable and obscure. In the event, the new symphony, finished in 1900, seemed
on first hearing no easier than what had gone before. And things got off to a bad
start with rehearsals for the first performance, which was to take place in Munich
in November 1901, under Felix Weingartner. It was to be one in the series of 'popular'
symphonic concerts, the 'Kaim-
His disappointment is easy to understand. Not only had he asked for long rehearsals and discussed the work in detail in a series of letters to Weingartner, he had also gone to unusual lengths to help the orchestra produce the sounds he wanted. The orchestral parts were meticulously annotated with subtle changes of phrasing and expression, including his pet instruction to the woodwind, Schalltrichter auf! or 'Lift the bell' so that the notes would stand out from the rest of the orchestral sound. He also hoped his listeners' minds would be fresh and responsive, asking Weingartner not to include any other work in the programme that required a solo singer, so that the soprano's appearance in the last movement would come as a complete surprise.
At one time Mahler called the piece a Symphonic Humoresque, a description that suggests
some of its goblin comedy, its abrupt changes of mood and, at the same time, its
sense of space and populousness, like a tapestry crowded with picturesque characters.
Matching this is the composition of the orchestra: Mahler thought it small, apart
from the addition of a glockenspiel, but it is only small by Mahlerian standards,
with triple woodwind and a rich complement of extra instruments -
Extraordinarly as it now seems, the audience in Munich just over a hundred years
ago, mystified by the unexpected assortment of novel effects, greeted this fabulous
work with scorn. Some of the audience made no attempt to conceal their mirth and
at the end, there was loud booing. The critics were savage, scoffing at Mahler's
'incredible cacophony' and 'clownish pranks': it was shapeless, lacked stylistic
consistency and was too concerned with 'witty details.' Mahler, in short, had challenged
most current ideas of what a symphony should sound like, and had to suffer the familiar
consequences. Of course, his Fourth Symphony has triumphantly weathered its disastrous
début, and is now admired for precisely those qualities Mahler strove for. Paradise
through the innocent eyes of childhood, a guileless vision expressed in terms of
the utmost subtlety and musical resource, and reaching a radiant and heart-
German Text
English Text
Wir geniessen des himmlischen Freuden
We relish the joys of heaven
drum tun wir das Irdische meiden
And everything earthly, we shun.
Kein weltlich Getümmel
No worldly commotion
hört man nicht in Himmel!
Is heard here in heaven
Leht alles in sanftester Ruh!
We live in the sweetest repose!
Wirführen ein englisches Leben!
Our lives are the lives of angels
Sind dennochganz lustig daneben!
And merry as crickets are we
Wir tanzen und springen
We dance and we spring
ir hüpfen und singen
We jump and we sing
Sankt Peter in Himmel sieht zu!
In heaven, Saint Peter can see.
Johannes das Lämmlein auslasset
Saint John brings forward a lambkin.
der Metzger Herodes drauf passet
The butcher -
Wir führen ein geduldigs
As we shepherd an easy
unschuldigsm geduldigs
And innocent, patient
ein lieblisches Lämmlein zu Tod.
And meek little creature to death.
Sant Lukas dan Ochsen tät schlachten
Saint Luke has had oxen slaughtered
ohn einigs Bedenken und Achten
And he has no scruple or heed.
Der Wein kostt kein Heller
The wine costs no pennies
im Himmlischen Keller
In heavenly cellars,
die Englein, die backen das Brot/
And the cherubs bake all the bread.
Gut Kraüter von allerhand Arten
Tasty cabbage of every description
die wachsen in himmlischen Garten
Is ripe in this heavenly garden
Gut spargel, Fisolen,
Fine beans and asparagus
und was wir nur wollen!
All we could wish for
Ganze Schüsseln voll sind uns bereit!
Great helpings for us are prepared!
Gut Apfel, gut Birn und gut Trauben
Good apples, good pears and good grapes,
die Gartneer, die Alles erlauben!
The gardeners grow for us all!
Willst rehbock, willst Hasen?
You want deer, you like hare?
Aut offner Strassen
In paths about here
sie laufen herbei!
They run in abundance together.
Sollt ein Festtag etwa kommen.
Whenever a feast day approaches
alle Fische mit Freuden angeschwommen!
The fish swim up happily, too!
Dort laüft schon Sankt Peter
Saint Peter pursues them
mit Netz und mit Köder
With nets and with bait, yes,
zum himmlischen Weiher hinein.
Right into the fishpond of heaven.
Sankt Martha die Köchin muss sein!
Saint Martha must work as the cook.
Kein musik ist ja nicht auf Erden
There is surely no music on earth
die unsrer verglichen kann werden.
That compares with the sounds we can
hear. Elftausend Jungfrauen
Eleven thousand young maidens
zu tanzen sich trauen!
So joyfully dancing!
Sankt Ursula selbst dazu lacht!
Saint Ursula sees them and laughs!
Cäcilia ,it ihren Verwandten
Cecilia with all of her kindred
sind treffliche Hofmusikanten!
Are marvellous minstrels at court.
Die englischen Stimmen
Their angelic voices
ermuntern die Sinnen
Stir all our senses
dass Alles für Freuden erwacht!
And all that is joyful awakes!
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Programme Notes by Paul Vaughan ©
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