Symphony No. 6 (1904) by Gustav Mahler
I. Allegro energico, ma non troppo
II. Scherzo: Wuchtig
III. Andante
IV. Finale: Allegro moderato
Symphony N0. 6 Excerpt 
To understand the significance of Mahler's writing one must witness his ability to develop musical material in large works. The enlarged orchestra offered new textures and colors. This work expands the wind sections with four oboes, piccolo clarinet, Eb and Bb clarinets, four bassoons, bass trombone, bass tuba and an enlarged percussion section including cowbells, deep bells, gong, birch rod, hammer, xylophone, two harps and a celesta. The cowbells are used in each movement except the scherzo as an offstage sound leading into more delicate themes, a unique sound in symphonic literature. The military-like themes in the first and last movements and the use of colorful low brass and percussion are typical of his writing. They add drama and contrast to the often subtle and intimate sound of the woodwinds and strings. 

Although this work has no formal program or storyline, there are traditional interpretations placed on three of the movements. The first movement was an attempt to express his wife, Alma, in a theme. The theme ends the first movement and contrasts with the opening military march theme. The second movement is a scherzo, moved from its traditional position as the third movement. This movement depicts two children, his own, playing arhythmic games running and laughing in the sand. The movement turns increasingly more tragic and ends in a whimper. The last movement is perhaps the most powerful and intensely scored of them all. In this movement, Mahler depicts the "three great blows of fate." The tragedy in his life undoubtedly had an impact on this work. What the three blows of fate represent are arguable; however, there is little argument as to their relationship to the loss of a five year-old daughter and his own deteriorating health. For these reasons and more, the symphony has unofficially taken on the name "Tragic. " There is no better way to defend this title than by the ending of the fourth movement in its extraordinary intensity. 