Mahler, Gustav

the working short score, notated in black ink on twenty-two staves in all (grouped in five- or six-stave systems), with revisions, deletions and cues, and a few additions in pencil for the entry of the fourth trumpet on the third system

1 page, large folio (c.36 x 27.3cm), 28-stave paper ("Joh. Aug. Bohme, Hamburg no.2"), ink-blots and stains from the composer, [Hamburg, summer 1894], light overall browning, creases and tears to leading margin (repaired on verso)

Salomon Bottenheim (1880-1957, secretary to Willem Mengelberg): gift from Alma Mahler.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is a remarkable sketchleaf for the most dramatic moment in Mahler's monumental "Resurrection" Symphony: the 'Last Trump', to which he gave the title "Der grosse Apell" (or "Great Summons") in his autograph complete score and in the first edition.  This passage marks the culmination of Mahler's eighty-minute symphony and is found at Rehearsal Number 29 (page 185) in the Universal full score; it precedes the Resurrection Chorale, the draft for which is written on the same paper-type (see Sotheby's sale, 29 November 2016, Lot 37).  Both the material preceding the 'Last Trump' and the brass calls in the last two systems emphasize the way that Mahler later expanded this musical scene from within, incorporating dramatic contrasts of physical space and instrumentation; i.e. with off-stage brass against the bird calls in flute and piccolo within the orchestra itself. 

Mahler begins the present manuscript with a very stormy and chromatic passage, ultimately not used, but perhaps an early conception of that found from Rehearsal Number 25.   This ends with a descent to C sharp, directly into the tympani roll at that pitch (in the final version this is replaced with a bass drum).  The 'Last Trump' begins rather similarly to the final version, here scored for three trumpets, horns and tympani; however, the flute and piccolo parts were apparently only composed later.  The evocative trumpet fanfares are written at sounding pitch (rather than in F as in the score), marked "schnell" but without accidentals, and without any indication that they are off-stage, except at the end where they are marked "ganz entfernt".  Whereas in the final version, Mahler then takes up the bird calls in the flute and piccolo, here he continues immediately with the further horn calls and fanfare motifs in the first trumpet.  The manuscript closes with a double bar marked "verklingend", indicating that this is the end of the 'Last Trump', to be followed immediately by the "Resurrection" Chorale. 

According to Mahler's programme for the Second Symphony, as recorded by Natalie Bauer-Lechner, "the first movement depicts the titanic struggles of a mighty being still caught in the toils of this world...and his death" (it was originally called 'Todtenfeier').  "While the first three movements are narrative in character, in the last movement everything is immediate action...[culminating in] the resolution of the terrible problem of life--redemption. At first, we see it in the form created by faith and the Church…It is the day of the Last Judgement...the earth trembles. Just listen to the drum-roll, and your hair will stand on end! The Last Trump sounds; the graves spring open, and all creation comes writhing out of the bowels of the earth, with wailing and gnashing of teeth".  This leads finally into the Resurrection Chorale: "Aufersteh'n ja aufersteh'n" ("Rise up again, yes rise up").