Adagietto (from Symphony No. 5) by Gustav Mahler Concert Band - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1543071

The fourth movement of Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony (written between 1901-1902) may be his most famous composition and is the most frequently performed of his works. The British premiere of the entire Symphony No. 5 came in 1945, 36 years after that of the Adagietto, which was conducted by Henry Wood at a Proms concert in 1909. It is said to represent Mahler's love song to his wife Alma and the words of a poem written to her can be sung to the main theme (in the original German text, of course). Mahler's tempo instruction is Sehr langsam (very slowly), but performances can vary between 7-14 minutes - this arrangement includes a drum set part to add a subtle rhythm in places, which can be considered optional, as desired. Originally written for harp and strings, this arrangement for full concert band (with cor anglais and contrabassoon) would sound best in a resonant acoustic and suitable for occasions of reflection, memorial or commemoration.