Gustav Mahler’s music was wholly dominated by the orchestra and voice. Indeed, he virtually wrote for nothing else, and the entirety of his musical career was devoted to the symphony and the Lied. Known for his often gargantuan compositions, it is somewhat amusing to think of Mahler as a composer of chamber music. Yet, between 1873 and 1883, Mahler evidently composed several chamber works, though only one has survived—a solitary movement for piano quartet. Written towards the end of his first year as a student at the Vienna Conservatory, the Piano Quartet in A minor would have been composed when Mahler was only fifteen or sixteen years of age. It was first performed at the Conservatory on July 10, 1876 with Mahler at the piano, and was followed by another performance at the home of Dr. Theodor Billroth, a close friend of Johannes Brahms.
A rather studied work, the Piano Quartet shows little of the future symphonic and vocal composer. In style, it owes much to Brahms and Schumann, as would be expected since at the time of its composition, Brahms was the leading influence in the Vienna musical scene. In a more or less straightforward sonata form, the movement, marked “Nicht zu schnell” (“Not so fast”), unfolds with three principal themes. Studiously they are worked out, though the movement’s development section relies, perhaps too much, on the opening theme. Curiously, however, Mahler interjects a surprisingly effective violin cadenza before the coda.
This lone example of Mahler’s attempts at chamber music remained unknown until his widow, Alma Mahler, discovered the manuscript in the 1960s. Along with it was a twenty-four-bar sketch for a Scherzo in G minor. Though in an unusual choice of key to follow an opening movement in A minor, the Scherzo, which shows similar traits, may have been intended as an effort to expand the sonata form movement into a full-fledged multi-movement design. While Mahler’s intentions will likely never be known, several composers have worked out completions for the fragmentary sketch. Joseph DuBose
Classical Music | Piano Music
Gustav Mahler
Quartet for Piano and Strings in a minor (1876-78) Play
Recorded on 06/25/2011, uploaded on 08/05/2011
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Gustav Mahler’s music was wholly dominated by the orchestra and voice. Indeed, he virtually wrote for nothing else, and the entirety of his musical career was devoted to the symphony and the Lied. Known for his often gargantuan compositions, it is somewhat amusing to think of Mahler as a composer of chamber music. Yet, between 1873 and 1883, Mahler evidently composed several chamber works, though only one has survived—a solitary movement for piano quartet. Written towards the end of his first year as a student at the Vienna Conservatory, the Piano Quartet in A minor would have been composed when Mahler was only fifteen or sixteen years of age. It was first performed at the Conservatory on July 10, 1876 with Mahler at the piano, and was followed by another performance at the home of Dr. Theodor Billroth, a close friend of Johannes Brahms.
A rather studied work, the Piano Quartet shows little of the future symphonic and vocal composer. In style, it owes much to Brahms and Schumann, as would be expected since at the time of its composition, Brahms was the leading influence in the Vienna musical scene. In a more or less straightforward sonata form, the movement, marked “Nicht zu schnell” (“Not so fast”), unfolds with three principal themes. Studiously they are worked out, though the movement’s development section relies, perhaps too much, on the opening theme. Curiously, however, Mahler interjects a surprisingly effective violin cadenza before the coda.
This lone example of Mahler’s attempts at chamber music remained unknown until his widow, Alma Mahler, discovered the manuscript in the 1960s. Along with it was a twenty-four-bar sketch for a Scherzo in G minor. Though in an unusual choice of key to follow an opening movement in A minor, the Scherzo, which shows similar traits, may have been intended as an effort to expand the sonata form movement into a full-fledged multi-movement design. While Mahler’s intentions will likely never be known, several composers have worked out completions for the fragmentary sketch. Joseph DuBose
Live from Round Top Festival 2011
More music by Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 5, Part III, Adagietto. Sehr langsam
Symphony no. 6
Symphony No. 5 (Adagietto)
Symphony No. 4
Symphony no. 2, 5th movement
Symphony No. 4
3rd movement, Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen, Symphony no. 1
Symphony no. 6, 1st movement
Symphony no. 6, 3rd movement
Symphony No. 5, Part III, Rondo-Finale
Performances by same musician(s)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in d minor, Op. 30
Polka Italienne
Sonata for Violin in E-flat Major, Op. 18
Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106, "Hammerklavier"
Piano Concerto No. 1 in d minor, Op.15
Piano Sonata No.1 in d minor, Op. 28
Piano Concerto in F Major
Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Op. 111
Five Melodies for violin & piano, Op. 35 bis
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 (for two pianos)
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