As with each of his first four symphonies, Mahler originally provided a programme of sorts to explain the narrative of the piece. He did not reveal the structure and content to the public. But, at different times, he shared evolving versions of a program for the third symphony with various friends, including: Max Marschalk, a music critic; violist Natalie Bauer-Lechner, a close friend and confidante; and Anna von Mildenburg, the dramatic soprano and Mahler's lover during the summer of 1896 when he was completing the symphony. Bauer-Lechner wrote in her private journal that Mahler said, "You can't imagine how it will sound!"
Date of composition | 1896 (1893-1896) in Steinbach am Attersee, Austria |
Premiered | 1902, June 9th in Krefeld, Germany by Gustav Mahler |
First published | 1899, Weinberger in Vienna, Austria |
Type | Symphony |
Tonality | D Minor |
Approx. duration | 100 minutes |
Instruments |
Orchestra
Female Chorus Boys Chorus Voice (Alto) |
Autotranslations beta |
Gustav Mahler: Symphonie n°3 en ré mineur Gustav Mahler: Sinfonia n. 3 in re minore Gustav Mahler: Sinfonie Nr. 3 d-moll |