Munching Crunching on Mahler's Symphony No 5
III. Scherzo
Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor
I'm Gustav Mahler, and I'm about to explain the third movement of my Symphony No 5, the Scherzo. You'll hear a solo horn step out in front of the orchestra while Ländler and waltz tunes whirl past, a sharp change of mood after the two heavy movements before it. Since my fellow composers and I also teach you on this site to recognize our pieces when they play, you could put yourself to the test once you've heard this dance.
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Stand Up for the Horn
Here's how I'd listen to my Scherzo, and you don't need to know anything about music to enjoy it. Start by listening for the solo horn, which is so prominent that the player is often asked to stand in front of the orchestra. Then let yourself be carried by the dance tunes, a Ländler and a waltz, which you could almost tap your foot to. Finally, notice how sharply the mood changes after the first two movements, because after a funeral march and a storm I wanted the room to feel brighter.Why It Gets a Name of Its Own
I gave this movement the title Scherzo because I wanted it to change the air completely after what came before. It stands entirely alone as Part II of the symphony, with the funeral march and the storm behind it and the Adagietto and the Rondo-Finale ahead. The title tells you to expect something lively and dance-like, so I marked it Kräftig, nicht zu schnell, which means vigorous, not too fast. After two heavy movements, I thought you deserved a change of company.Choosing a Shape Was an Adventure
I built this movement in a rondo-like form, which means a main idea keeps coming back, with other tunes in between. It isn't a strict textbook rondo, so rondo-like is the honest description. It lasts about 18 minutes, which makes it the longest of my five movements. I'll only point at the sections here, because I'm going to take them one by one in the next few paragraphs.Section 1: The Horn Clears Its Throat
The movement begins in D major, which is the home key, and I'll be returning to that bright, open sound throughout. The tempo is vigorous but not rushed, exactly as I marked it, so the music has energy without ever tripping over its own feet. This is where the solo horn first steps forward, and you'll hear that it has something to say. The mood is confident and a little cheeky, and it's the main idea you'll want to remember, because it keeps coming back.Section 2: A Ländler Wanders In
Among the dance tunes you'll meet a Ländler, a dance with a steady, swaying step, and the music loosens up noticeably. The pace stays comfortable, and the mood turns from vigorous to relaxed and friendly. I wanted you to feel that the orchestra had stopped marching and started dancing. Listen to how the tune sways from side to side, because that's the heart of this section.Section 3: The Waltz Spins Around
There is also a waltz, and it has a lilting, turning motion that feels quite different from the Ländler before it. It adds a more elegant color, and the music glides where earlier it stepped. These dance tunes are the sharpest contrast to the first two movements, which is exactly what I intended. Let the waltz carry you for a while, and enjoy how the movement tells its story through these changes of mood rather than through any words.Section 4: The Main Idea Comes Home
Because the form is rondo-like, the opening idea returns, and you'll recognize it like a familiar face in a crowd. It comes back in the home key of D major, with the same vigorous spirit I marked at the start. The horn is still prominent, so keep listening for it as the earlier tunes return in turn. By now you'll have heard how the dances and the main idea take turns, and that is the whole story of this movement.Your Turn, Press Play
Now it's your turn to hear my Scherzo for yourself. Press play and let the music carry you along, and keep in mind the horn, the dances and the main idea that keeps coming back. You don't have to catch everything on a first listen, and it's fine to just enjoy the ride. I hope you find this movement as exciting to hear as I found it to write.---
Did you enjoy this walk through the Scherzo of my Symphony No 5? I hope the solo horn, the Ländler and the waltz now feel like old friends, and that the sudden change of mood after the funeral march and the storm makes more sense to you. Once the dancing stops, it's worth thinking for a moment about how far we've come from that single trumpet at the very beginning. The Scherzo stands entirely on its own as the middle of the symphony, and I like to think of it as a wide-open window between two very different rooms. There is still plenty more of Symphony No 5 to explore. The Adagietto opens the last part of the symphony with strings and harp alone, and the Rondo-Finale then brings the whole journey to a bright close. If you'd like to keep going, please click on the links provided and carry on exploring Symphony No 5 at your own pace. I'd be glad to have you along for every step.