Symphony no. 5
The Symphony No. 5 in C# minor by Gustav Mahler was composed in 1901 and 1902, mostly during the summer months at Mahler's holiday cottage at Maiernigg. Among its most distinctive features are the trumpet solo that opens the work with a rhythmic motif similar to the opening of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, the horn solos in the third movement and the frequently performed Adagietto.
The musical canvas and emotional scope of the work, which lasts nearly 70 minutes, are huge. The symphony is sometimes described as being in the key of C♯ minor since the first movement is in this key (the finale, however, is in D major). Mahler objected to the label: "From the order of the movements (where the usual first movement now comes second) it is difficult to speak of a key for the 'whole Symphony', and to avoid misunderstandings the key should best be omitted."
Movements
- in C-sharp minor: I. Trauermarsch (In gemessenem Schritt. Streng. Wie ein Kondukt)
- in C-sharp minor: II. Stürmisch bewegt. Mit größter Vehemenz
- in C-sharp minor: III. Scherzo. Kräftig, nicht zu schnell
- in C-sharp minor: IV. Adagietto. Sehr langsam
- in C-sharp minor: V. Rondo-Finale. Allegro - Allegro giocoso. Frisch
Recommended recordings
- Wiener Philharmoniker · Leonard Bernstein YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- Berliner Philharmoniker · Herbert von Karajan YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
Most recent recordings
- Mahler: Symphony No. 5 — Gustav Mahler, Fabio Luisi, NHK交響楽団 (2026) Spotify
- Mahler: Symphony No. 5 — Gustav Mahler, Wiener Philharmoniker, Andris Nelsons (2026) Spotify
- Mahler Adagietto Variation (From Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor, Arr. for Violin and Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel) — Gustav Mahler, Gabriele Bagnati, Esther Abrami (2024) Spotify
New releases via Spotify — surfaced automatically, not editorial picks.