Symphony No. 5

The expansive emotional expressions and monumental musical designs of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) brought the Romantic era in music to its climax. A remarkable figure who strove for the highest perfection in his works, Mahler created a rare union of musical and spiritual expression.

The composer's nine symphonies (a tenth was left unfinished) feature unique melodic and tonal structures calling for vast orchestral resources. His Fifth Symphony, reproduced here from an authoritative edition, has enjoyed undiminished popularity for nearly a century. According to the New Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the Fifth "illustrates the kind of fresh and convincing formal solutions Mahler found … when he confronted instead the challenges and disciplines of the purely instrumental symphony." In this work, moreover, the composer turned toward an "orchestral sound embodying a more vivid string presence," as evidenced by the beautiful and well-known Adagietto movement.

This profound and moving symphony is presented here in full score with bar-numbered movements. Ideal for study in the classroom, at home, or in the concert hall, this affordable, high-quality, conveniently sized volume will be the edition of choice for music students and music lovers alike.

Reproduced from an authoritative edition.