PRINTED FULL SCORES – high voice

Hofmeister: vii. 1905

Print run: 150

No printer's copy, proofs or unaltered copies of this edition have been located, but see also the notes to PF6h1a below. The plate number suggests that the edition was prepared slightly later than the other items listed in the Hofmeister entry – for a further discussion of the chronology, see the notes on the first edition of the orchestral parts below.

According to Reinhold Kubik, the surviving Kahnt documents (RKGMK, 172) indicate that this was only printing of the sheets of the B minor/major full score in the period 1905–15.

Title Page: Ab(o)

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1] = tp; 2–11=music; [12]= blank

Dimensions: 339 x c.270 (r=244½)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4502

Copies: DK-Kk Mf.A. 3400 (bound copy, kept with a set of PO6h1); GB-Lam 152331 (ex coll. Sir Henry Wood with his markings; the UE edition number added on fw); GB-Lpc 2-9200143 (ex coll. Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius (1868–1949); see also PO6h1)

The music sheets are of the first impression of the high-voice version: the only alteration is that the prices of the orchestral scores and parts on the title page are covered with a blank paste-over. Complete copies of the scores of other songs in the collection with the title page in this state suggest that the wrapper would probably have been rather later in date, c. 1915–16, with raised prices for the scores and parts.

Although the high-voice orchestral score calls for for two oboes, the part-set also includes a part for oboe d'amore which can apparently be used as a substitute for the first oboe (though this is no guidance on this issue in either the score or the parts).

The DK-Kk copy is signed on the title page Rita Weise, probably the soprano Rita Meinl-Weise (1898–1987), and has been heavily annotated (in blue and red pencil) by an unidentified conductor who was also responsible for similar annotations in a copy of the high-voice score of Liebst du um Schönheit in the same collection (PF7h1) that was once owned by Meinl-Weise.

FIRST EDITION, later state, B minor/major  – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger / Vienna, New York: Universal Edition [1905/1918]

Title Page: Ab(o) with a sticker below the Kahnt imprint: UNIVERSAL-EDITION / WIEN-NEW YORK

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1] = tp; 2–11=music; [12]= blank

Dimensions: 339 x c.262 (r=244½)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4502

The music sheets are of the first impression of the high-voice version: the prices of the orchestral scores and parts are covered with a blank paste-over.  Complete copies of the scores of other songs in the collection with the title page in this state suggest that the wrapper would probably have been rather later in date, c. 1915–16, with raised prices for the scores and parts.

According to the Verlagsbuch, Universal-Edition assigned the edition number 3754 (which has been added to the title-page of this copy in felt-tip pen) to the high-voice orchestral score and on 2.xii.1918 ordered two copies. Although no further orders are recorded the score of the high-voice version continued to be listed in UE catalogues until the late 1930s. The New York branch was opened in 1920 (see HHUE, 55).

Title Page: none; heading on ob 1, p.1: UM MITTERNACHT

Make-up of set: 23 parts: fl 1, fl 2; ob 1, ob 2, ob. d’amour (see notes); cl 1 in A, cl. 2 in A; bsn 1, bsn 2, cbsn; hn 1 in F, hn 2 in F, hn 3 in F, hn 4 in F; tp 1 in F, tp 2 in F; trb 1, trb 2, trb 3; btuba;  timp; hp;  piano.

Dimensions: 340 x 271 (r=214 (fl 1))

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Hofmeister: vii. 1905

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4503

Print run: 300 [i.e. c. 10–15 sets]

Copies: DK-Kk Mf.A. 3400 (see the notes below; kept with a copy of PF6h1); GB-Lpc 2-9200144 (lacks harp and piano parts; together with a complete set of manuscript parts, ex coll. Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius (1868–1949); see also PF6h1a)

Exceptionally the published editions of the orchestral parts for the high- and medium-voice versions of Um Mitternacht are discussed in the critical notes to the edition of the song in the Collected Works volume (SWXIV/4, p. xiii):¹

No details of the part sets consulted are given in the commentary, but a recent comparison of GB-Lpc 2-9200144 and GB-Lpc 2-9200146 (POm1) has failed to confirm the report of pitch errors in the high-voice set.² Moreover, there is evidence suggesting that the chronology of the scores and parts was perhaps more complicated:

• Erik Schmedes was originally scheduled to be one of the singers at the Mahler-Abend on 29 January 1905, and was probably to have sung Um Mitternacht and „Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen‟ in versions for high voice.

• By mid-January he had withdrawn and both were assigned to Friedrich Weidemann who sang them in (newly prepared) versions for medium voice.

• At a concert of the Allgemeine Deutsche Musikverein on 1 June 1905 in Graz, thirteen orchestral songs by Mahler were performed under his baton: the three singers who had been involved in the January concert, Wiedemann, Anton Moser and Fritz Schrödter, were joined by Schmedes, who gave the first performance of the high-voice version of Um Mitternacht,³ although Weidemann retained „Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen‟.

This chronology may also explain the plate numbers assigned to the printed full score and orchestral parts of the high-voice version, which are rather higher than those for most of the other scores and part sets of the songs:⁴ Mahler may have waited until he had performed the high-voice version in Graz before sending the copyists' score and parts to Kahnt for use as the printer's copies. Neither manuscript has been located, and no proofs have been traced.

Although the high-voice orchestral score calls for for two oboes, the part-set also includes a part for oboe d'amore which can apparently be used as a substitute for the first oboe (though there is no guidance on this issue in either the score or the parts).

The surviving Kahnt documents (RKGMK, 172) indicate that this was the only printing of the parts for the high-voice version in the period 1905–15. According to the firm's Verlagsbuch, Universal-Edition assigned the edition number 3755 to the orchestral parts for the high-voice version, but no orders are recorded. Nevertheless the orchestral parts for the high-voice version continued to be listed in UE catalogues until the late 1930s.

Some of the parts in the DK-Kk set listed above are signed Rita Weise, probably the soprano Rita Meinl-Weise (1898–1987); there is no evidence that the set was ever used.

PRINTED PIANO-VOCAL SCORES – high voice

Provenance: ex coll. Edytha Moser; given by her to her son, Karl Moser, before 1928; current location unknown

Select bibliography: Neues Wiener Journal, 13729 (10 February 1932), p. 6.

Title Page: A(k)

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1] = tp; 2–7=music; [8]= Kahnt advert A

Dimensions: 337 x 270 (r=201½)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Hofmeister: vii.1905

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4479

Neither the printer's copy nor proofs for this edition have been located. According to Reinhold Kubik (RKGMK, 172), surviving Kahnt documents indicate that this was the first of four printings of the high-voice piano-vocal score in the period 1905–15: 1100 copies in all. Of these, 405 sets of the first edition sheets were supplied to Universal-Edition (see entries below).

Title Page: A(k)

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1] = tp; 2–7=music; [8]= Kahnt advert A

Dimensions: 322 x 263 (r=202)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4479

The dimensions of this unbound apparently untrimmed copy suggest that this is a later impression. The copy is unmarked.

FIRST EDITION, UE issue, B minor/major – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger / Vienna: Universal-Edition, 1910

Edition number: U.E. 2997a  Plate number: [4479]

See the notes to the second impression of this issue, below.

FIRST EDITION, UE issue, later state, B minor/major – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger / Vienna: Universal-Edition, 1912

Title Page: E(u)

Wrapper: front wrapper=U.E. type A, violet on green, text in black: [upper shield:] ·UNIVERSAL-EDITION· / [small shield:] № 2997 / [main shield:] GUSTAV MAHLER / UM MITTERNACHT / [bottom shield:] HOCH; back wrapper= U.E. advert for the works by Mahler published by the firm; dated VIII. 1912

Analysis: [1] = tp; 2–7=music; [8]=Kahnt advert B

Dimensions: 329 x c.265 (r=204) [bound copy, trimmed]

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: U.E. 2997  Plate number: 4479

Fortunately this copy resolves the problems posed by the rather ambiguous entries in the UE Verlagsbuch which fail to make clear to which versions of the song, high- or medium voice, the upper two blocks of order details applied. Since only the upper block records an order in 1912, this block must relate to the high-voice version represented by the copy described in this entry.

Hofmeister: no entry

Edition number: none  Plate number: 7488

The song had presumably been re-engraved to accommodate the English translation. Unfortunately, in the absence of located copies or a Hofmeister entry the only evidence relating to its date is the plate number, which suggests an publication date early in 1917.

SECOND EDITION, UE issue, B minor/major, Ger/Eng – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger / Vienna: Universal Edition, 1917

Edition number: [U.E. 2997a]  Plate number: [7488]

Assuming the dating of the Kahnt issue of the edition is correct, then the copies supplied to UE were presumably of the re-engraved vocal score.

Title Page: J(u) (variant- photo is damaged)

Wrapper: front wrapper=U.E. type B, dark green on light green: UNIVERSAL-EDITION / GUSTAV MAHLER / UM MITTERNACHT / HOCH / [lyre logo] / UNIVERSAL-EDITION / Nr. 2997a ; [back wrapper: blank]

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=Kahnt advert Ba

Dimensions: 320 x 245 (r=176)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: U.E. 2997a  Plate number: 7488

The printed music text is enclosed within a single-line rectangular border.

Edition number: [U.E. 2997a]  Plate number: [7488]

Title Page: not recorded

Wrapper: front wrapper=U.E. type B, dark green on light green: UNIVERSAL-EDITION / GUSTAV MAHLER / UM MITTERNACHT / [l.h.:] HOCH [r.h.:] HIGH; back wrapper: not recorded

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=advertisements

Dimensions: not recorded

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

This partial description was prepared early in the research process; the association of this copy with the 1923 is conjectural.

PRINTED FULL SCORES – medium voice

Title Page: A(o)

Wrapper: front wrapper=tp A; back wrapper=Kahnt advert A

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–15 music; [16]=blank

Dimensions: 342 x 271 (r=178)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Hofmeister: vii. 1905

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4477

According to Reinhold Kubik (RKGMK, 172), the surviving Kahnt documents indicate that this was the only printing of the sheets of the full score of the medium-voice version in the period 1905–15.

Title Page: Ab(o)

Wrapper: black on grey-green paper=tp G; back wrapper not present

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–15 music; [16]=blank

Dimensions: 328 x 252 (r=179)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: see the note below  Plate number: 4477

The music sheets are either from unused stock of the first impression or a later impression from the unaltered plates: the prices of the orchestral scores and parts are covered with a blank paste-over; the wrapper from 1915–16 prints raised prices for the scores and parts. What apparently purports to be a UE edition number '3754B' has been added in pencil at the top of the front wrapper of both copies described.

According to the Verlagsbuch, Universal-Edition assigned the edition number 3756 to the medium-voice score. No orders are recorded and the number was re-assigned to an arrangement of Schubert's Deutsche Tanze in 1931. Nevertheless, the score continued to be listed in UE catalogues until the late 1930s.

Title Page: [none; heading on ob 1, p.1:] UM MITTERNACHT

Make-up of set: 21 parts: fl 1, fl 2; ob. d’amour; cl 1 in A, cl. 2 in A; bsn 1, bsn 2, cbsn; hn 1 in E, hn 2 in E, hn 3 in E, hn 4 in E; tp 1 in E, tp 2 in E; trb 1, trb 2, trb 3; btuba;  timp; hp; piano.

Dimensions: 340 x 271 (r=212 (fl 1))

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Hofmeister: vii. 1905

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4478

Print run: 300 [i.e. c. 10–15 sets]

Copies: GB-Lpc 2-9200146 (possibly ex coll. Jacoba Repelaer van Driel (1884–1967): the horn parts have been adapted in manuscript to simplify the hn 4 part; see also PF6m1).

According to Reinhold Kubik (RKGMK, 172), the surviving Kahnt documents indicate that there was only one printing of the parts for the medium-voice version in the period 1905–15. According to the Verlagsbuch, Universal-Edition assigned the edition number 3757 to the parts for the medium-voice version. No orders are recorded and the number was re-assigned to an arrangement of Schubert's Deutsche Tänze in 1931. Neverthless the parts continued to be listed in UE catalogues until the late 1930s.

Provenance: ex coll. Edytha Moser; given by her to her son, Karl Moser, before 1928; current location unknown

The newspaper report fails to indicate whether the copy in question was of the high- or low-voice version of the song. See the description of [APVh1pr] above for details.

Title Page: A(k)

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=Kahnt advert A

Dimensions: 322 x 260 (r=202)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Hofmeister: vii.1905

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4476

According to Reinhold Kubik (RKGMK, 172), the surviving Kahnt documents indicate that this was the first of four print runs of the sheets of the A minor/major full score in the period 1905–15, a total of 1200 copies. Of these, 402 were ordered by Uinversal-Edition.

FIRST EDITION, UE issue, A minor/major – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger / Vienna: Universal Edition, 1910

Edition number: [2997b]  Plate number: [4476]

The entries in the UE Verlagsbuch are somewhat ambiguous, and fail to make clear to which versions of the song, high- or medium voice, the upper two blocks of order details applied; fortunately the survival of a copy of the UE issue of the high-voice piano-vocal score resolves the issue (see PV6h1c).

Title Page: E

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=Kahnt advert B

Dimensions: 322 x 260 (r=202)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: none  Plate number: 4476

Edition number: [U.E. 2997b]  Plate number: [4476]

Hofmeister: no entry

Edition number: none  Plate number: 7489

The song had presumably been re-engraved to accommodate the English translation. Unfortunately, in the absence of located copies or a Hofmeister entry the only evidence relating to its date is the plate number, which suggests a publication date in early 1917.

Title Page: I(u)

Wrapper: front wrapper=U.E. type B, text and rectangular lozenge border in dark green on light green: UNIVERSAL-EDITION / GUSTAV MAHLER / UM MITTERNACHT / MITTEL / [rectangular lyre logo] / UNIVERSAL-EDITION / Nr. 2997b ; [back wrapper: blank]

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=Kahnt advert A

Dimensions: 320 x 245 (r=176)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: U.E. 2997b  Plate number: 4476 [sic]

The reversion to the first edition plates in this copy is curious and unexplained, as is the status of this copy: was it part of the 1919 order, or a mock-up prepared for some other reason? The cover design is similar to the A-Wue high-voice copy. The U.E. Verlagsbuch records only that 200 copies were ordered, but gives no details of any delivery. To place an order ahead of the 1920 Mahler Festival in Amsterdam would have been an understandable commercial decision.

The copy described was subsequently pasted up and annotated as if preparation for a UE-only publication; no such publication before 1939 has been traced. But see the next entry.

Title Page: I(u)

Wrapper: front wrapper=U.E. type B, text and rectangular lozenge border in dark green on light green: UNIVERSAL-EDITION / GUSTAV MAHLER / UM MITTERNACHT / MITTEL / [rectangular lyre logo] / UNIVERSAL-EDITION / Nr. 2997b ; [back wrapper: blank]

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=Kahnt advert Ae

Dimensions: 325 x 250 (r=205)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: U.E. 2997b  Plate number: 4476 [sic]

The association of the copy described with the 1919 order is conjectural.

In some respects this copy shares a number of features with PV6m2a, not least the blank back wrapper (very unusual in such UE publications), but it is printed on larger sheets, with a larger printed area. The Kahnt advert, type Ae, was rather out of date by 1920 (not least the prices) but the only modification is the omission of 'Nachfolger' from the name of the publisher. Two rubber stamps indicate that the copy described was part of a batch exported to the United Kingdom and sold by Boosey & Hawkes Ltd. at the 'increased price' of 3/9d [three shillings and 9 pence].

SECOND EDITION, UE issue, second impression, A minor/major, Ger/Eng – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger / Vienna: Universal Edition, [1920?]

Title Page: K(u)

Wrapper: none seen

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=Kahnt advert Ba

Dimensions: 294 x 229 (r=176) [cropped]

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: [U.E. 2997b]  Plate number: C.F.K. 7489

Copies: A-Wst Mc 49304

The association of this copy with the 1920 UE order is conjectural, and the uncertainty is heightened by the absence of the wrappers: it might equally be a copy of the 1921 impression below. The paper of the exemplar described above is of poor quality and the copy has been substantially and crudely cropped.

The title page bears an inscription in purple ink: Willy[?] Legler / 3 Januar 1923. Wilhelm Legler (1875–1951) was an artist whose first wife, Margarethe (1884–1942), was Alma Mahler's half-sister; the inscription probably refers to either him, or possibly their son, Wilhelm (1902–1960). The former's Nachlaß at the Wienbibliothek also contains a short-score draft of the song  (SL6SS; probably a gift to the artist from Alma).

SECOND EDITION, UE issue, third impression, A minor/major, Ger/Eng – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt / Vienna: Universal Edition, 1921

The UE Verlagsbuch records no further orders, although the medium-voice piano and voice score was listed in the firm's catalogues until the late 1930s.

Hofmeister: iii.1916

Edition number: none  Plate number: [7460]

Neither the printer's copy nor proofs for this edition have been located. 

Title Page: Ga

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–11 music; [12]=Kahnt advert Ba

Dimensions: 312 x 254 (r=211) [this score has been trimmed]

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from writing (except for letterpress as header and/or footer on pp. [1] and 11., and on p. [12])

Edition number: none  Plate number: C.F.K.N. 7460

The arranger is not identified on the copy. The downward transposition necessitated a few minor revisions to the scoring, and also the loss of the oboe d'amore glissando in bb. 17–18 and 65–66.

The sheets are probably from a copy of the first or other early impression the title page of which was modified with a paste-over because of the price rises introduced in 1919: if earlier practice was followed, a new wrapper (not present in the copy described), reflecting the raised prices would have been provided.

According to the Verlagsbuch UE did not assign an edition number to the low-voice score, and no copies were ordered, but nevertheless it was listed in the firm's catalogues until the late 1930s.

Hofmeister: iii.1916

Edition number: none  Plate number: unknown

No printer's copy has been located, and it is possible that no manuscript set of parts was produced; nor have any proofs been located.

According to the Verlagsbuch UE did not assign an edition number to the low-voice orchestral parts, and no copies were ordered, but nevertheless they were listed in the firm's catalogues until the late 1930s.

Title Page: G

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=advertisement

Dimensions: 312 x 254 (r=211)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraving

Hofmeister: iii.1916

Edition number: none  Plate number: C.F.K.N. 7468

Neither the printer's copy nor proofs for this edition have been located. It was apparently prepared and issued in early 1916, before the English translation used for second editions of the high- and medium-voice piano-vocal scores (PV6h2; PV6m2) was available. The music is enclosed within in double-line decorative border.

Edition number: none  Plate number: 7490

The conjectural dating for this edition is based on the plate number, although it is curious that the low-voice version of the song was apparently re-engraved only months after the preparation of the German-only plates. See the entry for the UE issue of this edition below.

SECOND EDITION, UE ISSUE, FIRST IMPRESSION, G minor/major, Ger/Eng – Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger / Vienna: Universal-Edition, 1920

Title Page: Kb(u) (variant: copy photographed. This entry needs looking at)

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1]=tp; 2–7 music; [8]=Kahnt advert Ba

Dimensions: 332 x 251 (r=171½)

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: 2997c  Plate number: C.F.K.N. 7490

The printed area on pp. 2–7 is enclosed within a single-line border. This copy cannot be definitely associated with either of the two UE orders recorded in the UE Verlagsbuch (see also next entry).

Edition number: [2997c]  Plate number: 7490

According to the UE Verlagsbuch no further copies were ordered, although the piano-vocal score was listed in the firm's catalogues until the late 1930s.

PUBLICATIONS IN ALBUMS - Bariton-Album

Title Page: [see facsimile] KAHNTS BARITON-ALBUM / für Gesang und Klavier / [index of contents] / [left: FFK logo];  [centre:] Eigentum des Verlegers für alle Länder / Alle Rechte, auch Aufführungsrecht, vorbehalten / C.F. KAHNT, LEIPZIG / [left:] 96; [centre:] 8615

Wrapper: none present

Analysis: [1]=tp/index; 2–179 music; [180]=Kahnt advert ["Ausgewählte Lieder"]. Um Mitternacht appears as no. 26 on pp. 80–84.

Dimensions: 266 x 184 (r=198½) [trimmed when bound]

Printing method: Lithographic transfer from engraved plates

Edition number: [none?]  Plate number: C.F.K. 8559

All fifty-two items in the collection appear to have been engraved or re-engraved and each assigned plate numbers in a compact but non-continuous sequence: 8549–8557; 8559–8568; 8570–8597; 8603–8605; 8612. It is notable that no translations are provided, and that in the case of Um Mitternacht the song appears in what had previously been the key of the transposition for low voice.

See also the working paper Mahler's Music in Supplements, Albums and Magazines.