Symphonie Nr. 4 in vier Satzen fur grosses Orchester und Sopran-Solo: Fassung 1911, and: Symphonie I, D-Dur, and: Symphony No. 1 in D Major ("Titan"), and: Funf Lieder nach Texten von Friedrich Ruckert fur Singstimme und Orchester, and: Funfzehn Lieder, Humoresken und Balladen aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn fur Singstimme und Klavier (review)

Gustav Mahler. Symphonie Nr. 4 in vier Sätzen für großes Orchester und Sopran-Solo. Fassung 1911; vorgelegt von Erwin Ratz 1963; korrigierte Auflage 1995. (Sämtliche Werke, 4.) Vienna: Universal Edition, 1995, c1963. [Note, 1 p.; Revisionsbericht, 3 p.; score, 123 p. ISMN M-008-02433-7; UE 13823. DM 69; duration: ca. 549.]

Gustav Mahler. Symphonie I, D-Dur. Nach dem Text der kritischen Gesamtausgabe. Taschenpartitur. (Philharmonia Partituren.) Vienna: Philharmonia Partituren in der Universal Edition, [1998], c1967. [Pref. in Ger., Eng., Fr. (Reinhold Kubik), 4 p.; notes, 1 p.; score, p. 3-171. ISMN M-008-05948-3; Philharmonia No. 545. DM 24; duration: 509.]

Gustav Mahler. Symphony No. 1 in D Major ("Titan"). (Dover Miniature Scores.) Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications, c1998. Re-publication of the edition Vienna: Josef Weinberger, [1899]. [Program note, 1 p.; glossary, p. iv-v; instrumentation, p. vi; score, p. 1-169. ISBN 0-486-40419-6. $4.95.]

Gustav Mahler. Fünf Lieder nach Texten von Friedrich Rückert für Singstimme und Orchester. Taschenpartitur. (Philharmonia Partituren.) Vienna: Philharmonia Partituren in der Universal Edition, [1998]. [Pref. in Ger., Eng., Fr., 1 p.; score, p. 3-40. ISMN M-008-05988-9; Philharmonia No. 5479. DM 16.]

Gustav Mahler. Fünfzehn Lieder, Humoresken und Balladen aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn für Singstimme und Klavier. Nach dem Text der kritischen Gesamtausgabe hrsg. von Renate Hilmar-Voit unter Mitarbeit von Thomas Hampson. Vienna: Universal Edition, c1994-95. [Ausgabe für höhere Stimmlage (1994): 1 plate; pref. in Ger., Eng., p. v-x; score, 138 p.; song texts in Ger., Eng., p. 139-48; Mahler's German performance indications--translation and commentary (T. Hampson), p. 149- 51; 1 pl.; crit. notes in Ger., Eng., p. 153-62. UE 30 600; DM 65. Ausgabe für tiefere Stimmlage (1995): same layout; ISMN M-008-02515-0; UE 30 601; DM 65.]

The music of Gustav Mahler has become an essential component of the performing repertory, as is evident in the number of new recordings issued annually as well as the continued publication of the composer's works. The recent publications here under review, extending from reissues and reprints of historic editions to newly edited scores, offer a range of editorial approaches toward the music, since Mahler continually revised his compositions after their initial publication. Certainly the Mahler Sämtliche Werke offers one valid way of presenting the composer's music, but various reissues of earlier editions as well as the publication of new editions of selected compositions reflect different and equally acceptable editorial perspectives, underscoring the fact that the editing of Mahler's music presents a number of challenges that remain unresolved.

The editorial problem with Mahler is simple to explain, yet difficult to solve satisfactorily. Unlike Anton Bruckner, Mahler did not leave multiple, discrete versions of compositions, nor did he arrive at final, fully sanctioned versions of individual works. Rather, various sets of revisions exist in addition to the formally published versions, and those who edit Mahler's music must find a suitable methodology that both determines and expresses the composer's intentions within the constraints of a conventional edition.

The standard versions of Mahler's works are the critical editions published by Universal Edition (and others) for the Internationale Gustav Mahler Gesellschaft in Vienna. Inaugurated by the Austrian musicologist Erwin Ratz in 1959, this S&auml...