Fourth Movement from Symphony No. 9

from: G. Mahler (1860-1911)

These symphonic transcriptions generally include very nearly every relevant note in the original orchestral score. As a result, performance by two people, one playing the top stave and one the bottom, is preferable, certainly easier. However, by rolling chords, or by treating bass notes as grace notes, etc., they can be performed by one person effectively. These piano reductions are a way of peering over the composer’s shoulder, as it were, thinking along with them, a closeness to the creative process unlike no other.