| Instrumentations for Some of the Mahler We’d Like to Play Sometime Also including pieces that are already in our repertoire. In other words, this is our Mahler “master list.” Want to add something to this list? Just tell me. |
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Parentheses around a number means the part (example: piccolo) can be played by one of the players of the “principal” instrument (same example: flute), doubling on the parenthesized part (i.e., no additional player needed). The number under Timp is the number of drums needed. If there are two numbers, the second is the number of players needed. Sometimes you’ll see just an “x” under Timp, Perc, or Harp; this happens because most catalogs simply list “Timpani,” “Percussion,” and “Harp,” if any are used, with no further details given, and I haven't managed to see a score yet. If there’s just a number under Perc, that means my information is coming from a book (Orchestral Music, by David Daniels) which lists the number of percussion PLAYERS theoretically needed; I’ve decided to use that number since it obviously imparts more information than just an “x.” If the piece is listed in the Daniels book AND I have information about the exact instruments needed, there will be a number, a slash, and the percussion abbreviations. The fact that I have found my information in a catalog or book but haven’t seen a score yet is also indicated by one asterisk after the name of the piece. Two asterisks after the name of the piece means I haven’t managed to see a score OR a reliable catalog or book yet, and much of the instrumentation information in general is unconfirmed. If the name of the piece appears in red, it means the piece is still under copyright protection and we have to pay ASCAP to play it. If the name is in black, we haven’t had the time to check out the date of the particular piece, but the composer definitely lived recently enough that the piece could be under protection. If the name is in green, it’s definitely NOT still under copyright protection — or we happen to know that the composer is not an ASCAP member. If there are two numbers under Tpt, the first is trumpets and the second is cornets. Percussion abbreviations: B=Orchestral (Tubular) Bells; BD=Bass Drum; BDC=Bass Drum with Cymbal Attached; C=Cymbal(s); Cl=Claves; FC=Finger Cymbal; FD=Field Drum; G=Gong; G(l)=Low Gong; G(h)=High Gong; Gl=Glockenspiel; Gu=Guiro; M=Marimba; PSD=Piccolo Snare Drum; R=Ratchet; RS=Rosewood Sticks; SB=Sleighbells; SC=Suspended Cymbal; SD=Snare (Side) Drum; SS=Slapstick; Sw=Switches; Ta=Tambourine; TD=Tenor Drum; Tr=Triangle; To=Tom-Tom; TT=Tam-Tam; TT(l)=Low Tam-Tam; TT(h)=High Tam-Tam; V=Vibes; WB=Wood Blocks; WC=Wind Chimes; WM=Wind Machine; X=Xylophone. “Other” abbreviations: B=Buccine (ancient Roman brass horns); Ce=Celeste; Ch=SATB chorus; E=Eb Clarinet; G=Guitar; H=Harmonium; KCh=Children’s chorus; M=Mandolin; P=Piano 2 hands; P4=Piano 4 hands; O=Organ; [[ ]]=non-SATB chorus; [ ]=Vocal soloists: S=Soprano; M=Mezzo; A=Alto; C=Contralto; T=Tenor; Bar=Baritone; B=Bass. Full string sections are always assumed unless otherwise noted. |
| Mahler | Time | Picc | Flute | Oboe | EH | Clar | Eb | BCl | Bsn | Contra | Horn | Tpt | Tbn | Tuba | Timp | Perc | Harp | Other |
| Sym 1 | 52 | (3*) | 4 | 4 | (1†) | 4 | (2§) | (1‡) | 3 | (1£) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4/2 | 3/C,Tr,TT,BDC | 1 | |
| *2nd, 3rd, and 4th Fl; †3rd Ob; §3rd and 4th Cl; ‡3rd Cl (yes, 3rd plays A,Bb,C,Eb, and bass!); £3rd Bn. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sym 2 | 85 | (2) | 4 | 4 | (1) | 4 | 1+(1) | (1) | 4 | (2) | 6* | 4* | 4 | 1 | 7** | *** | 2 | O,[SA],Ch |
| *Plus 4 horns and 4-6 trumpets offstage. **6 drums, 3 players onstage; and 1 drum, 1 player offstage. ***4 players: 2 pr C; 2Tr; SD; 2BD (1 with Sw); 2TT, high & low; and some indefinitely pitched bells. |
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| Sym 3 | 99 | (4) | 4 | 4 | (1) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | (1) | 8 | 4* | 4 | 1 | 6/2 | ** | 2 | *** |
| *One trumpet doubles on posthorn in Bb; Eb cornet doubles at one point. **5 players: 2 Gl, Ta, TT, Tr, 2 susp C, SD, BD, C attached to BD, Sw for striking BD. ***[A], KCh, [[SA]]. |
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| Sym 4 | 50 | (2) | 4 | 3 | (1) | 3 | (1) | (1) | 3 | (1) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4/C,Tr,TT,Gl,BD,SB | 1 | * | ||
| *[S], scordatura solo violin (all 4 strings up a whole tone). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sym 5 | 68 | (2) | 4 | 3 | (1) | 3 | (1*) | 1 | 3 | (1) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4/Cl,C,BD,SD,T,SS,TT | 1 | |
| *Actually D clar. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mahler | Time | Picc | Flute | Oboe | EH | Clar | Eb | BCl | Bsn | Contra | Horn | Tpt | Tbn | Tuba | Timp | Perc | Harp | Other |
| Sym 6 | 77 | 1+(2) | 4 | 4 | 1+(1) | 4 | (1*) | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3+ | ** | 2 | 2Ce |
| *D and Eb. **5 players: Gl, deep bells, cowbells, X, BD, Tr, SD, C, slapstick, Ta, TT, Sw, hammer, kitchen sink. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sym 7 | 77 | 1+(1) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3/1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | * | 2 | ** |
| *5 players: SD, BD, C, Tr, Ta, TT, cowbell, bell, Gl. **Tenorhorn, G, M. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sym 8 | 90 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 4* | 4* | 1 | 4 | ** | 2 | *** |
| *Plus 4 Tpt and 3 Tbn offstage. **3 players: Tr, 3 C, BD, TT, Deep Bells, Gl. ***Ce, O, P, H, M, [3S2ATBar], 2Ch, KCh. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sym 9 | 85 | 1 | 4 | 4 | (1) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | (1) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | * | ** | 2 | |
| *2 players, looks like at least 7 drums. **3 players: Gl, 3 low-pitched bells, Tr, C, TT, BD, SD. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sym 10 (Cooke ver) |
75 | (1) | 4 | 4 | (1) | 4 | (1) | 1 | 4 | (2) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | * | ** | 1 | |
| *2 players, at least 5 drums, 7 looks easier. **2 players: BD, large military drum, C, Tr, TT, Sw, Gl. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mahler | Time | Picc | Flute | Oboe | EH | Clar | Eb | BCl | Bsn | Contra | Horn | Tpt | Tbn | Tuba | Timp | Perc | Harp | Other |
| Lied v.d. Erde |
63 | 1+(1) | 3 | 3 | (1) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | (1) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3/Gl,Tr,BD,C,TT,Ta | 2 | Ce,M,[T,A or B] |
| Klagende Lied |
37 | (3) | 3 | 3 | (1) | 3 | (1) | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3/Tr,BD,C,TT | 2 | Ce,M,[SAT],Ch | |
| + Offstage: | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2/Tr,C | |||||||||
| We’ll add the rest of Mahler’s orchestral/vocal works as soon as we can. | ||||||||||||||||||
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