Mahler Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen – Ging Heut’ Morgens Über’s Feld (I Went Out This Morning Over The Fields)

The second movement, “Ging heut Morgen übers Feld” (“I Went This Morning over the Field”), contains the happiest music of the work. Indeed, it is a song of joy and wonder at the beauty of nature in simple actions like birdsong and dew on the grass. “Is it not a lovely world?” is a refrain. However, the Wayfarer is reminded at the end that despite this beauty, his happiness will not blossom anymore now that his love is gone.

This movement is orchestrated delicately, making use of high strings and flutes, as well as a fair amount of triangle. The melody of this movement, as well as much of the orchestration, is developed into the ‘A’ theme of the first movement of the First Symphony.

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A listening guide of Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen – Ging Heut’ Morgens Über’s Feld with Lew Smoley.