Page 128 - GTMF 2024 Season Program

July 26 & 27 PROGRAM NOTES

Symphony No. 5 in The fifth movement follows the
C-sharp minor Adagietto without pause. Bearing
the straightforward marking of
continued allegro, it brims with cheerful
optimism and high spirits. Even
With great vehemence”) as the Mahler’s choice of key reflects
true opening of the symphony, that happy demeanor; D Major
with the previous material serving elicits an overall bright sound
as an extended introduction. from orchestral instruments and
Violence, strife and storm prevail; is commonly encountered in
the mood never quite settles, upbeat, positive compositions.
although the first movement’s Consider the joyous Second
funeral march recurs several Symphonies of both Brahms and
times. Nota bene: a broad Beethoven, Haydn’s radiant
chorale melody arises in the final “London” Symphony, and
brass towards the end of the Mozart’s propulsive “Paris” and
movement; it will feature strongly “Haffner” Symphonies—D Major
in the symphony’s lustrous all. The thematic materials are
final moments. mostly sturdy, stepwise tunes
Part 2 consists of a single that stride along in brisk cut time.
movement, an extensive Scherzo Thus the epic drama of the Mahler
of breathtaking optimism and joy. Fifth culminates in resplendent
Mahler referred to it as “mankind music that radiates a healthy
in the full brightness of day, at robustness, assertive without
the zenith of life.” Described as being overbearing, a young man’s
“perhaps the most Austrian of joy in his vigor and the limitless
all Mahler’s movements,” it avoids possibilities of his future.
any hint of parody, caricature
or exaggeration.

Part 3 opens with the Adagietto,
easily the most familiar movement © 2024 Scott Fogelsong
amongst Mahler’s symphonies.
Scored for a stripped-down
ensemble of strings and harp, it
has stepped out of the symphony
to serve in various guises, including
as Leonard Bernstein’s memoriam
to President John F. Kennedy.
Dutch conductor Willem
Mengelberg was convinced that
it was Mahler’s “declaration of
love for Alma! Instead of a letter,
he sent her this manuscript
without further explanation.
She understood and wrote back
that he should come!!! Both
have told me this!” (Vintage
Mengelbergian bombast, especially
all those exclamation points.)

126 Grand Teton Music Festival Season 63