Interpreting Mahler’s Music Tempo

Posted byMariana Bricio

October 17th, 2020

  • Lew Smoley – President of The Gustav Mahler Society of New York

The first program in a series of presentations entitled “Interpreting Mahler’s Music” is about Tempo. GMSNY President Lew Smoley explores an important passage from three Mahler symphonies:

The march theme that opens the Sixth Symphony, the first theme from the Second Nachtmusik of the Seventh Symphony, and the closing section of the Third Symphony’s finale.

Each excerpt is heard in two renditions that apply noticeably different tempo.

On “The Mahler Spotlight,” we ask guest presenters to focus on a specific work by Mahler, recordings, cultural history, biographical details, or anecdotes. At other times we bring you extensive interviews with performers, composers, and other personalities from the world of music and culture. Putting Mahler in the spotlight from today’s perspective.


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Related posts:

  1. Listening Guide – Movement 1: Langsam (Adagio) – Allegro risoluto, ma non troppo
  2. Listening Guide – Movement 2: Lied 2: Schlussszene aus Goethe’s Faust
  3. Listening Guide – Movement 5: Rondo-Finale
  4. Manuscript Symphony No. 2
  5. Listening Guide – Movement 1: Adagio
  6. Listening Guide – Movement 1: Allegro energico, ma non troppo

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