A symphony must be like the world, it must embrace everything.

— Gustav Mahler

If there’s any work of Mahler’s that lives up to his above dictum, it must be his Third Symphony. It really does embrace the whole of creation: starting from the inanimate world and the awakening of the great god Pan; moving from plants to animals, from human beings to angels and ending with heavenly love; it creates, encompasses and describes a whole musical universe!

Its six movements are:

1. Kräftig Entschieden (Strongly and Confidently) Pan Awakens – Summer Marches In
2. Tempo di Menuetto. Sehr mässig {Minuet Tempo. Very moderate) What the Flowers and Meadows Tell Me
3. Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast  (Relaxed, Scherzo-like, Without Haste) What the Animals of the Forest Tell Me
4. Sehr langsam. Misterioso. Durchaus ppp (Very Slow, Mysterious, Extremely Quiet Throughout) What the Night Tells Me
5. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (At a Lively speed, Cheekily Bold in Expression) What the Morning Bells Tell Me
6. Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden (Slow, Peaceful, Deeply Felt) What Love Tells Me

(Michael Tilson Thomas with the San Francisco Symphony (SFS 0045 (2 discs))

Course materials:

List of works

Below (still there!) is some general stuff – useful for intervals, key signatures, etc.

Keyboard

Cycle of 5ths

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