Symphony No. 5 (Mahler)

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Symphony No. 5
by Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler in 1907
Composed	1901–1902 in Maiernigg
Published	1904 (1904) Edition Peters 1905 (1905) Edition Peters 1964 (1964) Universal Edition/ Edition Peters / International Gustav Mahler Gesellschaft ("Revised version") 1985/1992/2012 (1985/1992/2012) Eulenburg 2001 (2001) Edition Peters (critical edition)
Movements	5
Premiere
Date	18 October 1904 (1904-10-18)
Location	Gürzenich Hall [de], Cologne
Conductor	Gustav Mahler
Performers	Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne

The Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler was composed in 1901 and 1902, mostly during the summer months at Mahler's holiday cottage at Maiernigg. Among its most distinctive features are the trumpet solo that opens the work with a rhythmic motif similar to the opening of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, the horn solos in the third movement and the frequently performed Adagietto.

The musical canvas and emotional scope of the work, which lasts nearly 70 minutes, are huge. The symphony is sometimes described as being in the key of C♯ minor since the first movement is in this key (the finale, however, is in D major).^[1] Mahler objected to the label: "From the order of the movements (where the usual first movement now comes second) it is difficult to speak of a key for the 'whole Symphony', and to avoid misunderstandings the key should best be omitted."^[2]