Page 126 - GTMF 2024 Season Program

July 26 & 27 PROGRAM NOTES

Symphony No. 88
in G Major

continued

handily demonstrates. The first
movement opens with a slow
introduction, then launches into
a sonata-form Allegro that spins
more or less everything out of its
opening figure—a practice that
Haydn shares with Beethoven
and, perhaps most significantly,
Brahms, who said of Haydn’s
Largo slow movement that “I want
my Ninth Symphony to sound
like this.” A lyrical and leisurely
contrast to the first movement’s
taut energy, that Largo gifts its
listeners with solos from both
oboe and cello in addition to its
exquisite primary melody.
Haydn’s minuets tend towards
the rustic, nowhere more than
here. Of particular interest is its
central trio with its underlying Gustav Mahler — Moritz Nähr
bagpipe-like drones and aura
of countrified coziness, not to
mention gentle satire as our
town pipers appear to lose count Gustav Mahler
there for a bit.
Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor
Then comes the concluding
Allegro con spirito, a downright
flabbergasting display of technical AT A GLANCE Gustav Mahler entered a period
virtuosity as Haydn fashions of intense personal transformation
an extended rondo without the starting in 1901. The initial catalyst
usual thematic contrasts; instead, Born: 1860 was likely his near death from
he spins the whole thing out Died: 1911 a severe intestinal hemorrhage
of a single melodic idea in Date of Composition: 1901-1902 on February 24 of that year.
borderline moto perpetuo Instrumentation: Symphony Countering the lonely anguish
rhythm. (Calling all teachers: No. 5 in C-sharp minor is scored of facing his potential demise
be advised that choosing this for 4 flutes (all doubling piccolo), was the warmth and promise of
movement for an introductory 3 oboes, (3 doubling English his engagement to the beautiful
rd
lesson on rondo form may lead horn), 3 clarinets, (3 doubling and gifted Alma Schindler; they
rd
to pedagogical Waterloo.) bass clarinet), 3 bassoons, would be married on March 9,
rd
(3 doubling contrabassoon), 1902 with two daughters soon to
6 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, follow. Given Mahler’s propensity
tuba, timpani, percussion, harp for reflecting his inner life in his
and strings. compositions, it’s reasonable to

124 Grand Teton Music Festival Season 63