Mahler: Symphony No. 6: Mov. 4 - Part 4 of 4

Symphony No. 6 in A minor, "Tragic": Mov. 4, " Finale: Allegro moderato - Allegro energico"

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Vienna Philharmonic

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gustav
• Mahler
• Symphony
• No.
• Tragic
• Vienna
• Philharmonic
• Leonard
• Bernstein
• Symphonic
• Orchestra

[hobosapiens]

does anyone knows if the last burst could include a hammer stroke ? or never it does?

[Tokkemon]

@hobosapiens Depends on the version of the symphony the orchestra plays. In Mahler's revised version of this piece the third hammer stroke is omitted because he didn't want to tempt fate. Most often orchestras will play the revised version but add the hammer stroke anyway, as is the tradition on this video.

[hobosapiens]

@Tokkemon i understand. i don't know if i expressed what i mean. i refer to the final burst before the symphony ends. and i think in this version there was no hammer sounding at it. cause if so, then it would be four hammer strokes. am i wrong ?

[Tokkemon]

@hobosapiens No that one has no hammer. The whole movement is organized around the three hammer blows. The last hit is the "last nail in the coffin" for lack of a better term.

[Salmontres]

I know!!! But, I think you're asking a little much from the audience to truly understand a piece as complicated as this. I love it, and it sounds like you have an appreciation for it. But, look at it from a perspective from a person who doesn't idolize Mahler's music: there is very little repetition, the melody's are a little long and complicated, and instead of an ending, it just trails off into the silence before the massive thunder blows kick in. It's beautiful, but it's hard to follow.

[Verityseo]

how many of those seemingly attentive audience truly understands the psychology, constitutional truth, so to speak, behind this symphony? odd momentum in their reaction after the ending makes me wonder...

[masoaviator]

And would also make it more significant than the other 2 hammer blows.

[melodiez001]

@hobosapiens Never. A hammer blow at the final A minor burst would equal a fourth blow. The score only calls for 2 or 3, depending on the version.

[uranrising]

Magnificent performance of one of the greatest things a human has created.

A privilege to have this symphony and this performance.

I feel blessed my ear is poor enough that I missed any slipshodness.

Thanks for the posting, of course.

[darkprose]

Bernstein certainly looks how I feel after this symphony concludes. "Tragic" is an understatement; this symphony is damn near suicidal.