Klarinet Archive - Posting 000264.txt from 1995/01

From: Christopher G Zello <czello@-----.EDU>
Subj: Mahler and bells up sound
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 02:33:09 -0500

I would like some opinions on what Mahler's intent was of writing "bells
in the air." For those of you who have played the various Mahler
Symphonies and have an opinion, do you think that Mahler considered it to
be just a visual effect, or to create a racous sound, or both??

I have heard of people who claimed that Mahler wanted to create a visual
effect, although they were trying to keep a "beautiful" sound (like
normal, that is) simply louder. Should it be interpreted that he wanted
to imitate a peasant band, and if an accidental squeak slips out to let
it pass without admitting to anything? ;-)

I was also wondering what other ways people have interepreted this "sound
in the air" text. Roger S. mentioned that he stood up. Are you
serious? Actually, the horns stand at the end of the final movement of
Mahler 1, and I just assumed that was a different German indication than
our schalltrichter auf (or the like). Any one out there have a score. . .

Christopher Zello
czello@-----.edu