Das himmlische Leben (G Major), Gustav Mahler, Piano Accompaniment.

Das himmlische Leben by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911).
Piano Accompaniment played and recorded by Pianist Friend for Singers.

The idea of concluding a symphony with a song movement is most unusual, and may even be unique. Mahler wrote the Wunderhorn song Das irdische Leben, long before the Fourth Symphony was conceived and considered using it as the finale of the third after he changed his mind about using the song in the Third Symphony, and began work on the fourth, it occurred to him that musical material from the song had already crept into the symphonies other movements, and therefore the song itself would be a logical conclusion... Mahler can now bring the victories one in these earlier symphonies to risk. He does so not by more heavens storming music, but with a simple and charmingly naive child’s vision of daily life and have traditional elements find their way into this song finale, as they had in the earlier movements. The song theme itself is based upon an old Bavarian tune, the sky hangs full of fiddles throughout the movement Baroque decorations, such as trills, pits, acabados, triplets, and dotted rhythmic figures, ornament the thematic material adorning the heavenly scene with frills and fancies. The finale combines classical strophic form with roundelay, and cyclical elements, particularly apparent in the return of the slave l motive from the first movement, and the chorale refrain from the angel’s movement of the Third Symphony. The finale opens in the tonic key of G major, and in a relaxed mood, its main tempo is set at an easy comfortable pace without any introduction...
- Mahler Foundation "Listening Guide to Movement 4: Lied: Das himmelische Leben (https://mahlerfoundation.org/mahler/l...)