Mahler Symphony No.

6: Andante Moderato Klangfarbenmelodie I | Orchestration Masters

2/15/16, 12:23 AM

Mahler Symphony No. 6:

Andante Moderato
Klangfarbenmelodie I
APRIL 3, 2015JUNE 21, 2015 / WONG CHUN-WAI AND
CHAN KAI-YOUNG
We begin our studies with the slow movement Andante
Moderato from Mahlers Symphony No.6. The score we use is as
follows: Mahler, Gustav. Symphonie Nr. 6 in vier Stzen fr
grosses Orchester. Partitur. Lindau: C.F. Kahnt, 1998. This
symphony features a range of colorful and effective orchestration
techniques.
We would begin our discussion with the use of
Klangfarbenmelodie (referred to as KFM in the following) a
term usually associated with the works of Schoenberg and
Webern which means the shifting of instrumental color within a
single melody.

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Mahler Symphony No. 6: Andante Moderato Klangfarbenmelodie I | Orchestration Masters

2/15/16, 12:23 AM

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 6 (Lucerne Fe

a. Pointillistic Change of Color

The first instance of KFM can be seen between mm.5-9. The piece
st
begins with a melody in the 1 violin, which carries the melody
alone (accompanied mainly by strings) until m.5, when he starts a
new phrase mid-measure (B-G-B). In the new phrase, two
flutes in unison double the B the first note of this new phrase.
Yet, instead of simply doubling the violin melody throughout the
measure, it holds on to the B and becomes a pedal, or harmonic
support to the melody. It gets to unison with the violin again at
the last beat of the measure, when the violin returns to B. In the
subsequent measure (m.6), the flutes has exactly the same melody
with first violin, with same dynamics and articulations, until the
melody comes to m.7, where it is passed to a solo oboe.
b. Gradual Change of Color The story doesnt end here,
however: At the point of dovetailing, the three different
instruments has a range of detailed expressions:
th
1. The flutes ends subito pp with a short 8 note
2. The first violin ends with a fp attack (with an appoggiatura)
lasting a dotted quarter note, allowing time for the oboe to fade in
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Mahler Symphony No. 6: Andante Moderato Klangfarbenmelodie I | Orchestration Masters

2/15/16, 12:23 AM

with a p to an crescendo to sf.

This allow a smooth passage of the melody from one instrumental
group to another, resulting in a gradual change in timbre. Once
passed to the oboe, the melody is accompanied mainly by winds
(2 clarinets, 2 bassoons alternate with a bass clarinet, 1 horn) until
measure 9 where the phrase comes to an end.
Example 1. Mahler Symphony No. 6: Andante Moderato, mm.59

(https://orchestrationmasters.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/mahlersymphony-no-6-iii-andante-moderato-eg-1-i.jpg)
(click to enlarge) Summary of instrumental colour employed for
the second phrase in mm. 5-7:
Measure
number

Special
Pitches

Instrumental colour

1st violin pp, upbow 2 flutes in

unison, pp

1st violin alone

1st violin, slurred from the 1st Bb

Flutes long Bb held from the
previous beat

6
7

1st violin 2 flutes exact doubling

D

2 flutes ends subito pp with a

short 8th note 1st violin ends
with a fp attack (with an
appoggiatura) lasting a dotted
quarter note 1 oboe fades in with
a p and then crescendo

Oboe carries melody alone

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Mahler Symphony No. 6: Andante Moderato Klangfarbenmelodie I | Orchestration Masters

2/15/16, 12:23 AM

The following recordings are good references to the example

discussed:
George Szell with Cleveland Orchestra (October 1967 live)
Note: flute doubling clearly heard in mm.5-7
Claudio Abbado with Berliner Philharmoniker
(Deutschegrammophon, 2005 May) Note: Smooth and
beautiful transition from the violin to oboe at m.7
Take-away Point: In orchestral writing, appropriate use of
changing instrumental colors can make the melody much more
interesting. In the beginning of this movement, Mahler has used
various shifting colors to present the melody; Sometimes the
color change applies to individual pitches in a pointillistic manner,
and sometimes the color changes happen gradually, as if gradually
shifting the lenses focus on a camera. If you have any additional
thoughts, please let us know in the comments section below!
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Klangfarbenmelodie, Mahler
6TH SYMPHONY
ANDANTE
MODERATO
KLANGFARBENMELODIE

MAHLER

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