Symphony No. 4 (Mahler) - Instrumentation

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for a fairly small orchestra by Mahler's standards, without trombones or tuba. It is scored for the following orchestral forces:

  • woodwinds: 4 flutes (flutes 3 and 4 double piccolos 1 and 2), 3 oboes (oboe 3 doubles cor anglais), 3 clarinets in A, B♭, C (clarinet 2 doubles clarinet in E♭ and clarinet 3 doubles bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (bassoon 3 doubles contrabassoon)
  • brass: 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in F and B♭
  • percussion: timpani, bass drum, cymbals, sleigh bells, triangle, tam-tam, glockenspiel
  • voices: soprano soloist (in fourth movement only)
  • strings: harp, violins I, II, violas, cellos, double basses

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