Schumann, Robert / orch. Mahler, Gustav

Preface

Schumann, Robert / orch. Mahler, Gustav – Symphony No. 1 in B flat major op. 38 ‘Spring Symphony’, ‘mit Instrumental-Retouchen von Gustav Mahler’

 
(b. Zwickau, Kingdom of Saxony, 8 June 1810 – d. Endenich, Rhine Province, now part of Bonn, 29 July 1856)

“Spring Symphony”
(1841)
First performance: 31 March 1841
Conductor: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

mit Instrumental-Retouchen von

Gustav Mahler
(b, Kalischt, Bohemia, 7 July 1860 – d. Vienna, 18 May 1911)
First performance: Hamburg on 21 January 1895
Conductor: Gustav Mahler

Andante un poco maestoso – Allegro molto vivace p.1
Larghetto p.50
Scherzo – Molto vivace p.59
Allegro animato e grazioso p.73

Preface
Robert Schumann wrote his first symphony in 1841. At this time, the 31-year-old composer was already successful with his chamber music pieces and renowned as a master of small ensembles. His “song year” had just ended, a fruitful period of intensive engagement with setting poetry to music – he had written 138 songs (out of a total of 250) – and he had started a family with Clara Wieck, the wellknown and ambitious pianist, against her father’s opposition. Schumann was now faced with the challenge of having to make a financial contribution to family life with his work. Even for such a popular chamber music composer, this was hardly possible. Writing works for large ensembles, on the other hand, promised good pay. In the following years, he composed four symphonies, not without encouragement from his energetic wife…

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