Mahler's Symphony no. 4 in G major was written in 1899-1900.Though typically described as being in G, the work employs a progressive tonal scheme. The whole work is prefigured around 'Das himmlische Leben', a song written in 1892 about a boy's vision of Heaven. It is scored for a fairly small orchestra by Mahler's standards: 4 flutes, 2 picollos, 3 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets, clarinet in Eb, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabasoon, 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in F and Bb, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, sleigh bells, triangle, tam-tam, glockenspiel, soprano, and strings.
