Die Zwei Blauen Augen (The Two Blue Eyes) From Songs of the Wayfarer

Gustav Mahler composed Songs of the Wayfarer for Orchestra and solo voice, while in his early 20s.

This cycle of four songs is the composer’s first mature work and the start of a genre known as the orchestral song cycle. The cycle tells the story (Mahler also wrote the lyrics) of a young man betrayed by his lover. The hero wanders the countryside, going through a series of emotional states. This work is semi-autobiographical, as Mahler had been rejected by soprano Johanna Richter.

Instrumentation: 423.11 brass ensemble

• Trumpet 1 in E♭ (C and B♭ part also provided)
• Trumpet 2 in B♭ (Doubles on Piccolo Trumpet), (C part also provided)
• Trumpet 3 in B♭ (C part also provided)
• Flugelhorn
• 2 Horns
• 2 Trombones
• Bass Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• Timpani

This arrangement is part of our Boulder Brass Signature Series.