Gemächlich

As Printed on a Score

Printed as a heading above the first bar, sometimes with a caution in parentheses ((nicht eilen)); it holds until the next tempo word. Mahler also writes it in a change of tempo (in ein sehr gemächliches Tempo einlenken).

Also spelled: gemaechlich

How Composers Use It

Comfortable, unhurried, easy-going — a walking tempo with a relaxed temperament. Mahler favours it for songs with folk-like or pastoral character (“Ging heut morgen übers Feld”, “Rheinlegendchen”), and Wolf for humorous ones. It describes ease rather than slowness, so the music should feel natural, never dragged.

Example

Mahler, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, No. 2, “Ging heut morgen übers Feld”, voice, m. 1: “Gemächlich”, with “(nicht eilen)” beside it.

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