III. Scherzo. Kräftig, nicht zu schnell (Vigorously, not too fast)

In contrast to the opening two movements, the Scherzo — which stands on its own as the Symphony’s second part — radiates optimism. As Mahler commented to Natalie Bauer-Lechner, the Scherzo “is mankind in the full brightness of day, at the zenith of life.”