All instruments used by Gustav Mahler (Orchestration)

Woodwind

Brass

  • Alt trombone (Altposaune). Symphony No. 7.
  • Bass tuba Bb/Eb.
  • Bass tuba F (Contrabass tuba). Das klagende Lied.
  • Contra bass tuba (Kontrabasstuba).
  • Cornet F (Piston). 
  • Flugelhorn Bb. Das klagende Lied.
  • Horn Eb (Horne, Hr.).
  • Horn F (French horn). 
  • Natural horn (Wald horn). 
  • Piston F.
  • Post horn Bb (or Flugelhorn Bb). Symphony. No. 3.
  • Tenor horn B (Tenorhorn, Alt horn, Tenh.). Symphony No. 7.
  • Tenor horn Eb.
  • Trombone (Posaune, Pos.).
  • Trumpet B (Trompete, Trp).
  • Trumpet Bb.
  • Trumpet C. 
  • Trumpet Eb. 
  • Trumpet F.
  • Tuba. 

String sections

  • Double bass (Kontrabass, Kb.).
  • Double bass with low C. Symphony No. 2, Symphony No. 3, Das Lied von der Erde.
  • Viola (Va.).
  • Violin I (Violine I, VI. I).
  • Violin II (Violine II, VI. II).
  • Violin (solo, higher pitch). 
  • Violoncel (Violoncello, Vc.). 

Plucked

Keyboard

Timpani

  • Timpani (Pauken, Pk.) 32/29/26/23.

Percussion

  • Bass drum (Grosse Trommel, Gr. Tr.).
  • Bass drum military with cymbals attached (played by one musician) (Grosse Trommel und Becken (von einem geschlagen)). Symphony No. 1, Symphony No. 3Symphony No. 7Symphony No. 10.
  • Bells cow, tuned.
  • Bells cow, tuned with clappers.
  • Bells herd (Herdenglocken, Herdengl.). Symphony No. 7.
  • Bells low (A and Ab).
  • Bells low (F#, A and B)
  • Bells low (untuned). Symphony No. 7.
  • Bells low (or bell plates).
  • Bells ringed, peal. (Glockengelaute). Symphony No. 7.
  • Bells tubular tuned.
  • Bells tubular untuned.
  • Cymbals clash (pair) (Becken, Bck.).
  • Cymbals suspended (played with stick).
  • Glockenspiel (chimes, Glsp.).
  • Glockenspiel with keyboard (Glockenspiel (mit Klaviatur). Symphony No. 7.
  • Hammer. Symphony No. 6.
  • Herd bell (Herdenglocken). Symphony No. 7.
  • Rattle. 
  • Ruthe (Rute, switch rod). Symphony No. 7.
  • Sleighbells.
  • Small drum (Kleine Trommel).
  • Snare drum.
  • Tam tam (high) (Tam-tam, T.-T.).
  • Tam tam (low).
  • Tambourine (Tambourin, Tamb.).
  • Triangle (Triangel, Trgl.).
  • Whip.
  • Wood block.
  • Xylophone. Symphony No. 6, Symphony No. 10.

Vocals solo

  • Alto.
  • Baritone. 
  • Bass. 
  • Boy alto. 
  • Boy soprano.
  • Mezzo-soprano.
  • Soprano. 
  • Tenor. 
  • Voice. 

Choir

Fernorchester (in the distance, offstage, single instrument or ensemble)

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