Is Mahler 4 (i) 'about' anything ?

[EdgeleyRob]

Don't know what it's about but the 1st movement always makes me think of children playing outside in a park.

[Alison]

Music for budgies maybe (#37), but not for human consumption.

To be honest I think no. 4 has just about the most ghastly & sugary 1st mov.in the repertoire. And the last mov. is, well. bonkers.

The music is too sophisticated for you Chipping Campden folk, Ossie.

[mercia]

my Ladybird book of Mahler Symphonies seems to imply that number 4 ends in E major because that is the Baroque key representing Heaven. I'm not sure whether to believe that. Does "progressive tonality" just mean starting in one key and ending in another ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

my Ladybird book of Mahler Symphonies seems to imply that number 4 ends in E major because that is the Baroque key representing Heaven. I'm not sure whether to believe that.

New one on me, mercs, but, knowing some of those Baroque guys, it wouldn't surprise me. (Knowing Mahler, it wouldn't surprise me if this sort of thing was right uo his street if he ever heard of it. What does it say about G major?)

Does "progressive tonality" just mean starting in one key and ending in another ?

There's a long answer, talking about the range of subtle differences in the technique between composers, but the short answer is "Essentially, yes."

[jayne lee wilson]

Music for budgies maybe (#37), but not for human consumption.

To be honest I think no. 4 has just about the most ghastly & sugary 1st mov.in the repertoire. And the last mov. is, well. bonkers.

Well it's certainly not for the fainthearted. There there, best keep away from the terrifying thing.

Surprised no-one has mentioned Mengelberg's almost unsurpassable 1939 Amsterdam effort - such intensity and fluidity, shaping the paragraphs with remarkably natural rubato. "Definitive" perhaps? No such thing of course!

Markus Stenz tried to do something like it, in his own way, in a marvellous 2010 Gurzenich performance on Oehms;
and don't, whatever you do, forget Mackerras' live QEH one with the Philharmonia issued in 2010. A legend and a testament.

[Barbirollians]

I admit it and freely that I learned the work from the VPO/Maazel recording and I love it still .

[cloughie]

I admit it and freely that I learned the work from the VPO/Maazel recording and I love it still .

My education was from Szell on CBS Classics S61056 - affordable in the 60s! In the late 70s I got to like the VPO Abbado with Frederica von Stade. Now we're all spoiled by many versions being available at very affordably, often in full sets!

[Barbirollians]

The Szell is very fine as is the Horenstein and also old Frankly Worse than Most's effort is very good too.

[Alison]

Didn't you mate Sir John make anything of the Fourth, Barbers ???!!

Out of interest what was the picture on the old Horenstein LP- anyone ??

[cloughie]

Didn't you mate Sir John make anything of the Fourth, Barbers ???!!

Out of interest what was the picture on the old Horenstein LP- anyone ??

There is a live JB recording with Heather Harper and BBCSO which I have on an Italian label.