Mahler - Symphony no.6 "Tragic" (movement 3): Score and Analysis

Sinopoli & Philharmonia orch.
An introduction to the movement can be found in the pinned comment.

ROTATION 1
0:00 – Theme A, strand 1. We're presented with a beautiful melody characterized by its use of modal mixture and lush orchestration.
1:00 – Theme A, strand 2. The goal of the second strand is to reach a strong cadence that concludes the movement. Its two core motives are descending scales and an oscillation between two notes. Both motives have a drive towards closure. Just as the final cadence is about to be reached, the music starts to modulate into minor.
2:14 – Theme B. An English horn and later a flute start to play an extremely melancholic theme. Lush orchestration of theme A is replaced by thin white textures, giving the music a feeling of overwhelming loneliness. This theme is quickly dismissed by the main section.

ROTATION 2
2:51 – Theme A, strand 1, changed orchestration. At 4:06 a new leaping motive is born from the main theme.
4:27 – Theme A, strand 2. The second strand again tries to reach a closing cadence. This time it actually succeeds, but as the movement is about to end, the octave motive from the Scherzo interrupts our closure and transitions us into theme B.
5:59 – The texture thins and the motives of the second strand appear in minor, accompanied by biting dissonances. Theme B arrives shortly after and is passed between the horns and winds.
6:43 – Motives from the second strand and the new leaping motive reenter the music, trying to prevent a disaster. They exchange material with theme B, but ultimately achieve triumph by modulating into major. The leaping motive is transformed into an ostinato, over which the motives from the second strand sing. There’s also a return of the cowbells from the first movement, representing nature.

ROTATION 3
9:32 – Theme A, strand 1 struggles to form at first but then succeeds as the horn takes over. Descending countermelody in violins.
10:31 – Theme A, strand 2. Music soon starts to violently, but also insanely beautifully change keys by descending thirds (Eb major, C major, A major). There are also some aching dissonances present that further disrupt the closure of the section. The octave motive again transitions us into theme B.
13:47 – Theme B. Climax is reached earlier than before and with much greater strength. Motives from strand 2 and the leaping motive are completely overpowered.
15:22 – The moment of triumph from the previous rotation is completely deformed. The cowbells are heard in the distance but are unable to save the music. A distorted version of the leaping motive is heard in the brass, desperately trying to overpower theme B.

ROTATION 4 / CODA
15:40 – The leaping motive succeeded in making way for Theme A, strand 1, now merged with the oscillating notes and the descending scales of the second strand. However, it is still inside the world of Theme B, making it agitated and nervous. Gradually it starts to transform back into its original, loving form and modulate back towards Eb major.
16:47 – We reach the coda through a beautiful modulation into Eb major. The oscillations, descending scales, and the leaping motive all work on bringing the movement to a close.

Mahler symphony no.6 playlist:    • Mahler - Symphony no.6 "Tragic": Scor...