Mahler, Gustav. (1860-1911)
Symphonie No. 5 für grosses Orchester
Leipzig: C. F. Peters. 1904. First edition, first issue. 251 pp. [PN] 8951. Full black cloth with original front wrapper trimmed and affixed to front board, small inventory label on lower spine. Boards and spine rather worn around the edges, but generally in fine, clean condition throughout, with an ownership inscription on the title page and three small ownership stamps, including of the conductor Fritz Müller-Prem.Mahler composed his Symphony No. 5 in 1901 and 1902, mostly during the summer months at his cottage at Maiernigg. Lasting over an hour in length, the expansive musical canvas and emotional scope of this work make it among the composer's greatest achievements. Among its most distinctive features are the funereal trumpet solo that opens the work and the frequently performed Adagietto (used to great effect in Visconti's 1971 "Death in Venice"). Conductor Herbert von Karajan said that when one hears Mahler's Fifth, “you forget that time has passed. A great performance of the Fifth is a transforming experience. The fantastic finale almost forces you to hold your breath.”
The present first issue of the full conductor's score was published shortly before 23 November 1904, on which day Peters sent Mahler a first copy (Klemm 1979, p. 104, note 53/2). (6585)
Printed Music Classical Music