Reflecting on Mahler 2

The University of Chicago Symphony Orchestra recently gave an end-of-season concert which featured Mahler's Resurrection symphony. I was fortunate enough to take part in these performances and had my maiden voyage on Timpani I (I've done Timpani II twice, in the past). For me, this part was a bit more fun than the second part. I made the following list of performance notes.

Movement I

• 4 mm before rehearsal #2: no accent on entrance.
• 3 mm before rehearsal #4: molto crescendo on "B-flat".
• 6 mm after rehearsal #5: tune low "G" to brass.
• 7 mm after rehearsal #5: let "G" ring.
• Pesante after rehearsal #5: sforzando on downbeat!
• Rehearsal #11: no crescendo on "C-sharp" roll.
• Rehearsal #15: molto fortissimo on "E-flat" entrance.
• 7mm after rehearsal #15: this is usually conducted in 3 beats to the bar. Beware.
• Rehearsal #18: ready both wood and felt mallets for next passage.
• 4 mm after rehearsal #19: switch to felt mallets quick.
• Rehearsal #20: use chamois or leather mallets.
• 2 mm before rehearsal #26: let "C" ring.
• 4 mm after rehearsal #26: slight sforzando on entrance of each roll (with timpani II).
• 7 mm after Nicht schleppen: diminuendo on each triplet figure.
• 2 mm before rehearsal #27: static pianissimo, do not crescendo or descrescendo.

Movement II

• Accurately differentiate before triplet and quadruplet figures.
• Use mutes in pianissimo figures if figure becomes muddy.
• 1 mm before rehearsal #11: poco crescendo

Movement III

• Relax the initial entrance and do not over-dampen the drums. Take care to not push into the drums too hard with your hands as this raises the pitch and creates an undesirable effect.
• 2 mm before rehearsal #36: entrance at mezzo-forte.
• Rehearsal #42: add "E" on downbeat.
• 4 mm after rehearsal #44: mezzo-piano...keep pulse set by timp II.
• 4 mm after rehearsal #46: tenuto downbeat "C".
• Rehearsal #51: use soft mallets....legato roll for Timp II solo.
• 5 mm before end of movement, let "C" ring for two measures.

Movement V

• Ready soft mallets for rehearsal #1; make quick change from wood to felt.
• 5 mm before rehearsal #1, think of this figure in 2/4 vs. 3/4 time.
• 6 mm after rehearsal #6: staccato.
• 5 mm before rehearsal #3: coordinate downbeat with timp II.
• Rehearsal #3, tune "F" and "C" to horn...quietly! Enter roll on "C" with oboe I.
• 2 mm before rehearsal #4: slight sforzando on half-note rolls.
• Rehearsal 7: COUNT!
• 10 mm before rehearsal #9: tenuto the fortissimo notes.
• Rehearsal #13: "G" down to "F" on top drum!
• 3 mm before rehearsal #14: no cresendo for 6 beats. Relax and do not overplay in the two rolled passages.
• 15 mm after rehearsal #15: play "stately" .. R-L-L sticking seems best.
• 2 mm before rehearsal #25: molto crescendo.
• Rehearsal #26: chamois mallets, accellerando. Work with the conductor closely here as you will help establish the new tempo.
• Rehearsal #27: go offstage for pauke in der Ferne.
• 7 mm after rehearsal #30 (in der Ferne): sforzando on beat 1.
• 1 mm before rehearsal #37: no crescendo into rehearsal #37.
• Rehearsal #38, tune "Gb" to timp II.
• 1 mm after rehearsal #42: soft mallet.
• 1 mm before rehearsal #43, play 8vb.
• Rehearsal #47: strong fortissimo accent on downbeat of 5 after rehearsal 47 (coordinate with cymbal).
• 6 mm before rehearsal #48, play "C", then "B" downbeats to double timp II.
• Rehearsal #48/8 mm before rehearsal #50: add low "Eb" on downbeat.
• Rehearsal #50: coordinate mallet selection with timp II.
• Rehearsal #51: make a nice, smooth roll here.
• 5 mm before end, timp II stops rolling...add low "Eb" in timp II?

Fellow timpanist Andrew Simco and myself had a wonderful time performing this piece together, and hopefully these notes help you in any future performances. If you'd like to hear recordings of our performances, visit this link on archive.org. Drop me a line if you have any feedback.