SYMPHONY
NO. 4 in E MINOR, OP. 98
Recording: Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado
[DG 435 683-2]
Published
1886.
Brahms began composing his last symphonic
masterpiece at a mountain retreat in 1884, about a year after
completing the Third Symphony.
Brahmsians often label it as the composer’s “magnum opus,”
although the German Requiem competes for that
designation. It was composed specifically for the
Meiningen Court Orchestra, led by his friend Hans von Bülow,
rather than for Vienna. Brahms was concerned from the
outset about the work’s accessibility, but audiences responded
enthusiastically. It is quite serious and even
tragic. Although the third movement competes with the
finale of the Second Symphony for sheer exuberance, this only
emphasizes through contrast the severity and strictness of the
finale. The chains of thirds introduced in the first
movement, as well as the emphasis on the note C in all four
movements, characterize the symphony. Bülow, only
half-jokingly, remarked after the first movement was played on
two pianos at a private gathering, “For the whole movement I
had the feeling that I was being given a beating by two
incredibly intelligent people.” It is the only one of
Brahms’s symphonic first movements to avoid repeating the
exposition, although the development begins with the first
theme in its original form. The second movement is known
for its suggestions of the Phrygian mode. The first two
movements also have notably unusual final cadences. The
only third movement in the symphonies that actually sounds
like a scherzo is paradoxically the only one to avoid the
three-part scherzo-like form. The introduction of the
triangle is the only time in the symphonies that a percussion
instrument other than timpani is used. Although it seems
anomalous, the movement does have clear references to the
other three, even suggesting the theme of the finale’s
variations in the alternating high and low chords in the
coda. The extraordinary finale is a passacaglia or chaconne (Brahms used the
latter term), a form common in the early eighteenth
century. It is a series of 30 continuous variations on
an eight-bar stepwise rising theme. Said to be derived
from a Bach cantata (specifically Cantata #150), Brahms gives
the theme its essential character by making the fifth note and
its harmonies chromatic (outside the E-minor scale). The
variations can be split into four sections roughly
corresponding to the first theme group, second theme group,
development, and recapitulation of sonata form (used in all
three of the other movements). The brief coda ends the
symphony with a powerful impact. Though intellectually
and emotionally somewhat challenging, the symphony’s greatness
was already acknowledged by Brahms’s death a decade
later. The orchestra is of standard size, with double
woodwind, four horns, two trumpets, and timpani.
Contrabassoon, piccolo, and triangle are used in the third
movement. Three trombones (and contrabassoon) are used
in the fourth movement.
IMSLP
WORK PAGE
ONLINE
SCORE
FROM
IMSLP (First Edition from Brahms-Institut Lübeck)
ONLINE
SCORE FROM IMSLP (from Breitkopf & Härtel Sämtliche Werke)
1st Movement: Allegro non troppo (Sonata-Allegro
form). E MINOR, Cut time [2/2].
EXPOSITION
0:00 [m. 1]--Theme
1. With no introduction at all, the main theme begins
with a violin upbeat, almost in mid-thought. The melody
consists of upbeats leading into downbeats, continually
reversing direction. The pitches actually form a chain
of thirds, descending in the first four bars and ascending in
the second four. The violas and cellos accompany with
harmonized arpeggios, while flutes, clarinets, and bassoons
provide punctuating weak beat chords, the horns sustaining
chords and octaves.
0:19 [m. 9]--Theme 1
continues as the violins now stick to the note “C” on long
notes with winding three-note upbeats. The bass line now
moves up chromatically (by half-step). The wind chords
are less detached.
0:27 [m. 13]--The
violin figures become shorter, with two upbeats in each
bar. This leads to two smoother four-note descending
lines, an octave leap (echoed by the oboe) and a cadence that
merges with the following varied statement of the theme.
0:38 [m. 19]--Varied
statement of Theme 1. The upbeats and downbeats are
played in broken octaves. Violas and woodwinds play new
descending scale lines, and the weak beat punctuations are in
low strings.
0:52 [m. 27]--The
second part of the theme now slides upward by half-steps (from
the initial C) on the long notes and steadily builds in
volume.
0:59 [m. 31]--The
shorter figures now lead into a huge expansion. This
reaches a loud volume level, with more woodwind participation.
1:13 [m. 39]--The
expansion continues with a syncopated descending line and more
agitated short figures. The harmony moves toward the
minor version of the “dominant” key of B. The climax is
reached with two large descending lines merging into dotted
(long-short) rhythms.
1:37 [m. 53]--Transition.
The
extended transition begins with fanfare-like figures,
including a triplet rhythm, in the woodwinds. The full
orchestra provides a descending response in dotted
rhythm. There follows a very broad cello melody doubled
by horns. The remaining strings and winds provide a
strongly rhythmic accompaniment of four punctuating harmonized
descents of four thirds each (B minor).
1:56 [m. 65]--The
cello melody is transferred to the violins in octaves.
The full orchestra except violins takes the punctuating
descents of thirds. The last of these is extended to
five thirds in the low strings. This last bass note
helps to avert an expected strong arrival on a B-minor
cadence.
2:09 [m. 73]--The
expected cadence on B minor is thwarted by a sudden and strong
re-appearance of the woodwind fanfares, this time underpinned
by loud syncopated chords in the strings, on G
major/minor. An accented descent leads to a repetition
of the same fanfares on C major/minor. This then
dissipates into a series of detached two-note figures passed
between plucked (pizzicato)
strings and woodwinds, both in unison and leading back to B.
2:31 [m. 87]--Theme
2. The arrival is in the major key. The strings
continue to pluck leaping figures, now in harmony, as the
winds enter with syncopated chords. The violins then
emerge with a warm, rich descending melody in dotted rhythm
accompanied by pulsating triplets in violas and cellos.
This diminishes suddenly in volume (B major).
2:46 [m. 95]--Flute,
clarinet and horn present a new melody that includes triplet
rhythms. The strings accompany with short pairs of
repeated notes. The oboe and horn then merge into the
descending melody in dotted rhythm. The short pairs
continue in the strings. The dotted melody reaches a
point of repose, with three-note figures passed between horn
and flute, both underpinned by the oboe.
3:08 [m. 107]--Closing
Section. The repose of the second theme is interrupted
by a sudden dissonant (diminished) chord on G-sharp. The
volume remains quiet, but the calm is disturbed by a timpani
roll (the drums making their first entrance here) and the
fanfare rhythm on the trumpet. Under the held wind
chord, the strings play a unison arpeggio that arches upward,
then down as the bass slides down to G. The closing
theme itself, a quiet major-key version of the wind fanfare
with isolated three-note interjections, follows.
3:21 [m. 114]--The
wind fanfares are interrupted by another quiet diminished
chord (this time on E-sharp) with drum roll and trumpet
fanfares. The string arpeggios are extended to nearly
twice the length, with more short descents. The bass
slides down by half-steps as the oboe, bassoons and horn slide
up. The volume swells. After reaching C-sharp, the
bass moves back to E-sharp. Then the B-major fanfares
enter again, this time forcefully on the strings with trumpet
and horn punctuation, followed by a joyous arching wind
response in triplet rhythm.
3:40 [m. 125]--The
string fanfares suddenly shift up to D major. Other
winds join in the punctuations. The fanfares and triplet
rhythms become even more insistent as the harmony moves back
to B major. The climax comes with an exuberant dotted
rhythm.
4:00 [m. 137]--The
expected strong and forceful cadence on B is again somewhat
averted, this time by a sudden soft volume as it is
reached. Harmonized upbeat descents reminiscent of Theme
1, beginning in flutes and bassoons, but then incorporating
the other winds, bring the exposition to a quiet close.
They are accompanied by arpeggios in low strings and detached
weak beat echoes in the violins. Three figures lead to a
sustained wind chord that starts to propel the music back to
the home key of E minor. The pattern is repeated a step
lower, leading to a highly unstable and dissonant chord (a
diminished seventh).
DEVELOPMENT
4:16 [m. 145]--The
previous passage is set up in a way that makes an exposition
repeat expected. Brahms plays a formal game here by
beginning the development section as if it were an exposition
repeat. His only symphonic first movement to lack such a
repeat thus deceives the listener into thinking that there is
one. The first eight-bar phrase with its chains of
thirds is heard as it was at the movement’s beginning.
4:31 [m. 153]--The
arrival of the long C’s with winding three-note upbeats
diverges from the exposition. The harmonies are new from
the outset and lack the rising chromatic bass line, and the
weak beat wind chords drop out in favor of a smooth clarinet
descent.
4:38 [m. 157]--The
winding upbeats develop into a flowing line with syncopations
over bar lines. It is passed between violin
groups. The flutes and bassoons, later joined by oboes,
introduce three-note stepwise patterns harmonized in thirds
and sixths. The clarinets later add a flowing
accompaniment that dovetails with the violin lines.
These patterns begin in G minor, but move toward A-flat
major. The long notes with winding upbeats return in the
woodwinds in A-flat, accompanied by violins and filled with
quiet tension.
4:59 [m. 169]--Suddenly,
there is a huge outburst in the strings. Groups of three
powerful chords are passed between the violins and the low
strings as the winds and horns alternate a neighbor-note
figure in dotted rhythms. These powerful three-note
groups begin on the last upbeats of the bars, so the downbeat
is obscured. The passage vacillates between the related
keys of B-flat minor and D-flat major before pivoting to B
minor/major (approached by its alternate identity as
C-flat). At the end, the strings gradually come together
as the winds abandon their dotted rhythm and take over the
alternation from the low strings.
5:26 [m. 184]--As at
2:09 [m. 73], an expected arrival on B is thwarted by a
deceptive motion to G, but this time it is suddenly quiet as
well (pianissimo).
The passage is a sort of mixture between those at 2:09 [m. 73]
and 3:08 [m. 107]. The fanfares and triplets are heard
in the strings with their typical major/minor mixture, but the
drum roll, sustained horn octave, and mysterious character
recall the later moment.
5:33 [m. 188]--Very
quietly, flutes, clarinets, and bassoons play the fanfares in
unison, sotto voce.
These lead to the quiet string arpeggios as heard at 3:08 [m.
107]. Figures reminiscent of Theme 1 are heard in the
oboes. These, as well as the sustained bass note and the
arpeggio, suggest C minor. Other winds then enter as the
bass note shifts up a half-step.
5:49 [m. 196]--The
string arpeggios and oboe figures are again played over the
new bass note (C-sharp). The other winds again shift the
bass note upward to D. It remains there much more
briefly before a harmonized oboe and horn descent helps it
move up one more half-step, to D-sharp. There, the
string arpeggios dissipate under a drum roll. The
“mysterious” fanfares and triplets are now played by the
winds, arching up and back down in yet another attempt to
establish the “dominant” harmony of B major/minor.
6:10 [m. 206]--In a
sudden outburst, the fanfares blast forth in their original
character in the strings, with trumpet and horn
responses. The winds then join as the fanfares gradually
move to A-flat major. The triplet figures begin a
boisterous descent in the winds and brass as the fanfare
rhythm continues in the strings. The strings then lead
another descent, with the winds responding. A-flat major
is changed to G-sharp minor (same keynote), where a strong
cadence is reached.
6:27 [m. 217]--The
winds begin a long passage in G-sharp minor of stepwise
triplet motion harmonized in thirds. After two loud
punctuations, they become quiet. Clarinets and bassoons,
then oboes, then clarinets again, play the sinuous
thirds. Against this, and quite surprisingly, the
violins, playing pizzicato,
present the first phrase of Theme 1 in its entirety, all
played on the offbeat and harmonized by violas and flutes, the
cellos and basses providing a plucked foundation on the
downbeats.
6:45 [m. 227]--Re-transition.
The
second
part of Theme 1, the long note with the winding three-note
upbeat, is heard in two sequences with the four-note groups
passed from the flute to three string sections (violas, then
cellos, then violins), the other strings and winds alternating
on the background harmonies. The second sequence is a
step higher than the first.
7:00 [m. 235]--Four
shorter sequences follow, each with a winding figure played by
a wind instrument followed by a descending figure played by a
string group. The first two alternate clarinet and
violins, the third one oboe and violins, and the last one
(with the same pitches as the third) clarinet and
violas. The other winds and strings provide background
harmonies, again in alternation. These sequences become
very quiet. The entire passage from 6:45 [m. 227] has
moved from G-sharp minor in rising sequences to arrive back
home at E minor.
7:18 [m. 243]--After
the last sequence, the winds drop out and the strings very
quietly (triple piano),
led by cellos, bridge into the mysterious beginning of the
recapitulation, hanging on the “dominant“ chord.
RECAPITULATION
7:27 [m. 247]--The
moment of return is disguised, as the development began with
Theme 1 in its original form. The original notes of
Theme 1 are heard in oboes, clarinets, and bassoons, but they
are twice as long, quiet, mysterious, and sustained. At
the arrival of the fourth note, there is a link to previous
passages such as 3:08 [m. 107] and 5:33 [m. 188]. The
note is underpinned with a new harmony (a C major chord
colored by a pervasive foreign note, A-flat), quiet string
arpeggios, and a drum roll, and is sustained for three bars.
7:40 [m. 253]--The
same process occurs for the next four notes (completing the
“descending” portion of the chain of thirds). The fourth
note is underpinned by harmony and arpeggios suggesting G
major or E minor (the home key), with the “color” note of
D-sharp.
7:54 [m. 259]--After
the disguised beginning, the recapitulation slides into its
normally expected path, picking up with the “ascending” chain
of thirds and then continuing as at 0:19 [m. 9] and 0:27 [m.
13].
8:20 [m. 273]--Varied
statement of Theme 1, as at 0:38 [m. 19] and 0:52 [m. 27].
8:41 [m. 285]--The
expansion from 0:59 [m. 31] and 1:13 [m. 39] is greatly
curtailed. The removal of ten bars from the passage
allows it to remain at home in E minor for the transition and
second theme group.
9:01 [m. 297]--Transition
from 1:37 [m. 53] now in the home key. Woodwind fanfares
and triplet rhythms, followed by horn/cello melody with
rhythmic accompaniment (four groups of four descending
thirds).
9:21 [m. 309]--Continuation
of melody on violins, as at 1:56 [m. 65]. Averted
arrival on an E-minor cadence.
9:33 [m. 317]--Fanfares
and syncopated chords, as at 2:09 [m. 73] on C minor/major,
then F minor/major. This is followed by detached, unison
two-note figures passed between plucked strings and woodwinds,
leading back to E.
9:55 [m. 331]--Theme
2, as at 2:31 [m. 87], now in E major.
10:10 [m. 339]--Continuation
as at 2:46 [m. 95], with the roles of the woodwind
instruments somewhat reversed. Arrival at point of
repose.
10:32 [m. 351]--Closing
section,
as at 3:08 [m. 107] and 3:21 [m. 114]. The fanfare
figures are played by a horn instead of a trumpet. The
diminished chords and string arpeggios are on C-sharp (sliding
down to C), then (following the major-key version of the
fanfare and triplets) on A-sharp. Drum rolls, as
before. The sliding bass descent is again followed by
the joyous outburst of fanfares with trumpets and horns,
followed by the arching wind response in triplets.
11:04 [m. 369]--This
passage diverges from 3:40 [m. 125]. The shift of the
fanfares is to G-sharp, a half-step higher than the expected
(and analogous) G. The climactic passage is
extended. Whereas the corresponding passage in the
exposition moved back to the major key after the shifted
fanfares, it now moves back to E minor (instead of major),
since the end is approaching and this ultimately tragic
movement must conclude in minor where it began. This
occurs via the related key of G major.
11:22 [m. 381]--The
closing section is further extended with accented, syncopated
string triplets, passing down through F major (and including a
last wind fanfare) to arrive, finally, on E minor. The
triplets become more and more forceful and dramatic,
culminating on two harmonized wind descents (punctuated by two
loud outbursts) and a tremolo
string arpeggio leading into the powerful coda. The end
of this passage is surprisingly similar to the quiet one at
6:27 [m. 217] in the development. This earlier passage
was underpinned by the quiet weak beat plucked string version
of Theme 1, whose apotheosis follows here.
CODA
11:42 [m. 394]--Theme
1 is presented in imitation with low strings and horns
answered by the rest of the orchestra. It is stark and
powerful. After four bars, the leading voice (low
strings and horns) begins to play in syncopation. The
Theme 1 material continues with the following elements (long
notes with winding three-note upbeats, then the short,
detached upbeat figures), working toward a climax.
12:12 [m. 414]--The
large descending lines from the climax of Theme 1 before the
transition in both the exposition and recapitulation now
become the climax of the movement. They lead to
accented, tragic short descents from the winds and low strings
against a powerful violin tremolo
arpeggio. This material builds even more intensity in
the full orchestra over thundering timpani rolls before a
powerful E-minor cadence.
12:45 [m. 436]--Five
punctuating chords from the full orchestra mark the
arrival. Then the movement closes with a broad plagal cadence, with a
sustained “subdominant” (A-minor) chord over four thumping
timpani beats moving to the final E-minor chord. Such a
plagal cadence was originally planned by Brahms to open the
movement before he deleted it in favor of the more direct
beginning.
13:05--END OF MOVEMENT [440
mm.]
2nd
Movement: Andante moderato (Varied Sonata form without
development). E MAJOR, 6/8 time.
EXPOSITION
0:00 [m. 1]--Introduction.
The
introduction
actually anticipates Theme 1, but these austere slow fanfares,
played first by a solo horn which is then joined by the other
winds (excluding clarinets), are not in the “right” key.
The fanfares begin on E, but the notes used are those from C
major. The fanfares are actually in the Phrygian mode, which has
a half-step between the first and second notes of the
scale. This mode is often associated with the note E
because it has no sharps or flats when centered there.
0:30 [m. 5]--Theme
1. The absence of the clarinets in the preceding
fanfares is explained by their leading role in presenting the
full theme that is derived from their distinctive dotted
rhythms. They share this very quiet presentation with
plucked violins. The remaining accompanying strings are
also plucked. Bassoons and later flutes provide further
accompaniment. While the theme is now clearly in major
because of the notes F-sharp and G-sharp, the persistent
C-natural and D-natural are vestiges of the Phrygian
introduction.
1:18 [m. 13]--The
horns take over the presentation of Theme 1 from the clarinets
and plucked violins, with counterpoint from bassoons and
continued plucked string accompaniment.
1:30 [m. 15]--Suddenly,
the clarinets re-enter alone with the bassoons. They now
strongly play the fanfares with the persistent foreign
(“Phrygian”) notes. The plucked strings have short
punctuations. The other winds enter on forceful rising
arpeggios. These respond to the clarinet/bassoon
fanfares twice in sequence, the first suggesting B major and
the second G major. Clarinets and bassoons then play
trailing passages in groups of three that diminish in
volume. The horns enter in preparation for another
statement of the theme.
2:08 [m. 22]--The
trailing clarinets and bassoons have moved back toward
E. Theme 1 begins another full statement. The
plucked strings play as before, but the horn, clarinet, and
bassoons that support them drop out two times, leaving the
plucked strings exposed as they complete the first phrase.
2:32 [m. 26]--The
clarinets, bassoons, and horns re-enter at the end of the
first phrase, and the plucked strings drop out. The
clarinets lead again for the second phrase of the theme.
The plucked strings make a tentative appearance toward the end
of the phrase. The leading clarinet then suddenly and
unexpectedly abandons the modal inflections and moves to a
full cadence in E, which has thus far been avoided.
2:57 [m. 30]--Theme 1
finally flowers into a beautiful, warm melody in E
major. It is played by the violins, bowing for the first
time in the movement. Violas and cellos, still plucked,
provide accompaniment in rising triplet arpeggios. The
winds also accompany with mildly syncopated lines. The
violins then plunge downward in arpeggios before a change of
key to the “dominant” of B, the line quickly rising again to
an expectant repeated note. Here, the remaining strings
take up their bows for the first time.
3:35 [m. 36]--Transition
theme.
Beginning halfway through the bar, the woodwinds present an
austere and dramatic harmonized melody in detached triplet
rhythm. The strings then reply. This pattern is
repeated with altered harmony (natural instead of melodic
minor). A single horn begins to pulse on a syncopated
repeated note under three rising woodwind chords. The
horn is isolated, quickly diminishing, then the three chords
are repeated an octave lower, stretched out, and at a quiet
volume, leading into Theme 2 (B minor).
4:02 [m. 41]--Theme
2. The cellos play a very warm and beautiful major-key
theme, slowly rising and falling in a stepwise motion.
All winds except bassoons drop out. The violins provide
a decorative accompaniment characterized by short rests.
The bassoons and violas provide a counterpoint to the
cellos. The theme reaches a full cadence (B major).
TRANSITION TO RECAPITULATION (in lieu of Development Section)
4:56 [m. 50]--The
cadence of Theme 2 merges into echoes from clarinet, violins,
bassoons, and then cellos again. The strings then lead
an extension of the theme, rising and falling in pitch and
volume. This is echoed by flutes, clarinets and
bassoons, the strings continuing with rising two-note figures.
5:34 [m. 57]--The
music dissipates into the rising two-note figures, passed from
strings to woodwinds. The flute is then isolated in
alternation with the violins. The violas take over the
alternation from the flute. The violas then expand the
two-note figures into a sweeping, but quiet arpeggio, passed
to the violins, who move up and back down twice The
arpeggios are accompanied first by solemn horns and bassoons,
then by oboes and clarinets with bassoons. A harmonized
rising line from the flutes leads to the recapitulation.
RECAPITULATION
6:14 [m. 64]--Theme
1. The theme is rescored. The violins are still
plucked, as are cellos and basses, but the violas are
not. They substitute for the clarinets in presenting the
melody. The woodwinds themselves pass harmonized
descending groups (usually thirds) between them. Flutes,
clarinets, horns, and bassoons are heard, but oboes are
not. The timpani are heard for the first time on soft
rolls.
7:00 [m. 72]--Horns
begin another presentation of Theme 1 with bassoons and
plucked strings (now including violas), as at 1:18 [m. 13].
7:12 [m. 74]--The
fanfares enter again as at 1:30 [m. 15], but now all woodwinds
play together in unison. The violins (bowed) take over
halfway through the first statement. A very active
counterpoint with shorter notes takes over in the
violas. This then moves to the violins as well, as the
woodwinds enter with their response to the fanfares. The
response suggest B major, as before.
7:23 [m. 76]--The
second statement of the fanfares is taken by the low
strings. The following response continues the active,
rapid motion in shorter notes, mostly in arpeggios, expanding
on what was heard in the exposition, but still suggesting G
major. The winds drop out, and the strings continue, the
violins playing the fanfare rhythms in a descending sequence
before passing them to the low strings and moving to the
faster notes with the violas. The passage moves to
B-flat.
7:43 [m. 80]--A
harmonized blast of the fanfare from winds and horns is
followed by a string response. The strings forcefully
continue, and the winds then respond to them. The
strings begin another sequence, but they continue with a
resumption of the rapid motion, including triplets in the
violas, as the winds respond with the fanfare rhythm.
This passage moves from B-flat to B and builds to a climax.
8:06 [m. 84]--Transition
Theme.
The preceding development has replaced the last statement of
Theme 1 from 2:08 [m. 22] and its more melodious variation at
2:57 [m. 30]. Now the transition enters in the home
minor key (E minor), played forcefully by the whole orchestra,
including thundering timpani. This is the climax of the
movement. The triplet rhythm is extended by half a bar,
but there is only one statement of the three rising chords (in
their longer version), now from horns and bassoons without the
repeated pulsation.
8:32 [m. 88]--Theme 2,
in the home key of E major. The violins play the
melody. The decorative accompaniment with the rests is
absent, and the cellos play the counterpoint formerly taken by
the bassoons. The winds are completely absent until the
end of the melody, where bassoons and clarinets, then flutes
and oboes enter in syncopation in thirds and sixths, while
violins and violas suddenly and actively descend over a
dramatic crescendo.
9:36 [m. 98]--Theme 2
is given a new and dramatic variation in place of the previous
transition to the recapitulation. It is played in
exuberant syncopation from both strings and woodwinds with
timpani rolls.
10:01 [m. 102]--This
suddenly breaks off. The strings quietly begin the
second half of the theme. Then clarinets and bassoons,
accompanied by a horn, take over in thirds with four rising
figures containing dotted rhythms as the strings begin to
pluck, leading into the coda. The clarinets and bassoons
then play the three slow, syncopated rising chords from the
end of the transition.
CODA
10:28 [m. 106]--The
low strings play a sustained note (the dominant note, B),
while the violins and violas play mysterious arpeggios (marked
triple piano) on a
diminished chord and the timpani begins a soft roll. The
clarinets play fragments of Theme 1 similar to those heard at
2:32 [m. 26]. The oboe later takes over the
fragments. This moment is reminiscent of the similar
“mysterious” passages in the first movement.
11:02 [m. 111]--The
rapid, soft arpeggios and the timpani roll break off.
After a notated general break, the principal clarinet resumes
the Theme 1 material with string accompaniment, slowing to a
satisfying resolution and cadence on E.
11:22 [m. 113]--At the
moment of the cadence, the horns suddenly start to blast out
the original fanfares as heard in the introduction. They
are accompanied by rising lines in bassoons, violins and
violas, and rising triplet arpeggios in the cellos. The
accompaniment, still in E, clashes with the “Phrygian”
horns. The woodwinds join with the horns on the
fanfares. Now, the Phrygian mode is re-interpreted as C
major mixed with E major. C begins to function as a
“dominant” chord, suggesting the previously unheard F major.
11:44 [m. 116]--The
fanfares end and the music again quiets down. Three
rising arpeggios follow with an unusual harmonic
sequence. First, the cellos play one in C major.
Then the clarinets in E major. Finally, the flute and
oboe play over a timpani roll in F major, a harmony strongly
implied earlier. This F-major arpeggio slides down to
the final E-major chord. This cadence is known as a
“Phrygian” cadence, and is highly appropriate given the use of
that mode in the movement. The final chord is sustained
by woodwinds and horns. Strings (with timpani) punctuate
it three times, the last time plucked
12:09--END OF MOVEMENT [118
mm.]
3rd Movement:
Allegro giocoso (Sonata form with foreshortened
recapitulation). C MAJOR, 2/4 time.
EXPOSITION
0:00 [m. 1]--Theme 1,
Part 1. Brahms adds piccolo, contrabassoon, and triangle
to the orchestra. The opening is played by the full
orchestra in a loud, exuberant manner. There are two
lines in contrary motion, descending steps from the higher
instruments and ascending steps from the lower ones.
These change direction on longer notes. They are
arrested by an accented loud chord with a drum roll
0:09 [m. 6]--Theme 1,
Part 2. The theme resumes with detached repeated chords,
beginning with a short-short-long rhythm and continuing with
faster notes than at the opening.
0:12 [m. 10]--Theme 1,
Part 3. A very abrupt harmonic shift leads to a loud
fanfare in E-flat major with descending neighbor-note
turns. The accents are very strong and on the weak beats
of bars. There are more drum rolls. A descending
string arpeggio in triplets leads back to C major.
0:21 [m. 19]--Theme 1,
Part 2 resumes after the interruption of Part 3, now played
more smoothly and quietly, without the short-short-long
repeated notes. It is greatly extended. A long
crescendo begins, culminating in an extended timpani roll and
downward-arching, rushing string scales.
0:37 [m. 35]--Theme 1,
Part 1, now inverted with the higher instruments moving up and
the lower ones moving down. The arresting loud chord is
now more fully harmonized, and marks the first entrance of the
ringing triangle.
0:43 [m. 40]--Transition.
Theme
1, Part 2 seems to begin again with the triangle, but its
direction is altered, and there is a motion toward the
“dominant” key of G major. All instruments except the
low strings drop out. They descend by thirds in the
short-short-long repeated notes, quickly diminishing in
volume. The violins and violas play another chain of
descending thirds with the repeated notes. Finally, the
flute, clarinet, and bassoon play a longer chain of descending
thirds in single notes, the repeated notes continuing in the
violas.
0:54 [m. 52]--Theme
2. A more gentle and graceful, but jaunty melody from
the first violins with light accompaniment from the other
strings and running responses from piccolo, flute, clarinets,
and bassoons. A trill leads to the next phrase (G
major).
1:06 [m. 63]--The
winds take over the melody, straightening it out and passing
it between them. The strings play a more rhythmic
accompaniment, all plucked except for a bowed triplet rhythm
counterpoint in the violas. The triangle enters here
with light rhythmic tapping.
1:20 [m. 77]--The
strings, all bowed, begin a closing phrase that develops into
a re-transition. This becomes more ominous, and the
whole orchestra enters, including a large timpani roll, over a
huge crescendo. The motion is back to C major and to Theme 1.
DEVELOPMENT
1:32 [m. 89]--Theme 1,
Part 1 begins as at the start of the movement. The
“arresting” chord is now expanded and passed between two large
groups. The first includes strings, bassoons, horns, and
timpani. The second includes the other woodwinds,
trumpets, and a prominent, rolled triangle. Clarinets
play in both groups. The first group plays loudly, the
second softly for two rising sequences.
1:45 [m. 100]--The two
large groups unite and play alternating low and high chords
for three rising sequences. Timpani are only played on
the low chords; flute, piccolo, oboes, trumpets, and triangle
only on the high ones. Following these sequences, Theme
1, Part 2 begins. It is interrupted by two large,
syncopated chords (with triangle and timpani rolls), then
continues and is developed, moving to the related minor key, A
minor.
2:01 [m. 117]--Further
development of Theme 1, Part 2. Fragments are passed
between strings and winds, the latter accompanied by plucked
strings. The strings and winds then unite, playing in
counterpoint on the material of Theme 1, Part 2. This
passage moves from A minor to E major.
2:23 [m. 139]--Development
of Theme 1, Part 1 in C-sharp minor (the relative key to the
previous E major). First the winds play the “inverted”
version in harmony, with syncopated accompaniment from violas
and cellos (playing with the bassoons). Then the strings
play the original “descending” version in stark unison.
The groups join for a brief bridge before the winds drop out
completely.
2:36 [m. 151]--Further
development of Theme 1, Parts 1 and 2 in C-sharp minor by
strings alone. This becomes ever quieter, trailing off
to triple piano.
The fragments become shorter, the low strings begin plucking,
and all is suspended on a plucked unison C-sharp from all
strings before a pause.
2:55 [m. 168]--The
triangle punctuates a very quiet, syncopated entry of Theme 1,
Part 1 played by all winds and horns. This is in D-flat
major (the major-key version of the previous key; C-sharp and
D-flat are the same note). The “arresting” pause from
the plucked strings leads to a trailing, descending bassoon
line with chords from the other winds. The strings then
enter, bowed, as does a timpani roll for two quiet
transitional chords.
3:11 [m. 181]--Re-transition.
Brahms
marks
this passage Poco meno
presto. It is a moment of respite, despite the
transitional character. The horns, bassoons, and
clarinets begin a very tranquil version of the formerly
boisterous Theme 1, Part 3 in D-flat major, accompanied by
plucked strings. The oboe then takes over the
melody. The strings take up their bows as the music
moves away from D-flat. Flute and piccolo enter.
The music is passed between strings and winds, and moves to
the expectant “dominant” chord of the home key, C major.
This passage is somewhat reminiscent of the main theme from
the second movement.
RECAPITULATION
3:38 [m. 199]--The
expected arrival on C at the moment of the recapitulation is
thwarted by the sudden blast of Theme 1, Part 3 in its
original form and in its original key of E-flat (as at 0:12
[m. 10]). We thus hear two very different versions of
this material juxtaposed. The beginning of the
recapitulation here also indicates that the openings of Parts
1 and 2 of the theme at the beginning of the development
constituted their “reprise.” Compare the first movement,
whose development also begins with the main theme.
3:47 [m. 208]--Theme
1, Part 2, as at 0:21 [m. 19], with some very minor variations
in the string figuration.
4:03 [m. 224]--The
“inverted” version of Theme 1, Part 1 from 0:37 [m. 35] is
stretched to twice its length and mixed with the “original”
version before the large “arresting” chord with triangle.
4:13 [m. 233]--Transition.
It
begins
a fourth higher, so that the music can remain in the home key
rather than moving to G major. There is also some slight
variation, including some jaunty syncopation. The
descending thirds from the low strings, then the violins and
violas, are heard. Clarinet and horns insert a slight
extension before the longer chain of thirds in the
winds. Here the oboe takes over from the clarinet.
The repeated notes are not heard in the violas here.
4:27 [m. 247]--Theme
2, in the home key of C major. An oboe joins the violins
in the presentation of the jaunty melody. The running
responses are heard from the same instruments as before.
There is some new harmony in the horns. The previous
quiet trill is replaced by a large swelling and a timpani
roll.
4:39 [m. 258]--The
passage from 1:06 [m. 63] is transformed into a very martial
passage with triplets in the character of Theme 1, Part
3. The material still belongs to Theme 2. The
passage is also extended with new chromatic harmonies.
There is a steady buildup of energy and excitement.
4:58 [m. 276]--The
closing phrase from 1:20 [m. 77] is now played in loud,
punctuating two-chord descents from the whole orchestra.
These seem to be leading to a strong cadence, but diverge over
a bass line that descends in half-steps. The harmony
moves to the “dominant” chord in this transition to the coda.
CODA
5:04 [m. 282]--Very
suddenly and quietly, the short-short-long rhythm begins to be
tapped on the timpani. This continues at some
length. The string basses, later joined by cellos, start
a long series of repetitions of the note G. In G minor,
fragments of Theme 1 are heard passed between the
instruments. This builds in volume with loud horn
blasts, the timpani beats and low string thumping on G
remaining constant.
5:27 [m. 305]--C major
seems to emerge over the thumping G’s, which are joined by
horns and trumpets. The thumping G’s are suddenly
abandoned, and the music is unexpectedly diverted to the
“subdominant” key of F major, where Theme 1, Part 1 is heard
and reaches a full cadence.
5:39 [m. 317]--The
F-major cadence merges with sequences of high and low chords
similar to those at 1:45 [m. 100]. All instruments play
on the high chords, and only the flute, piccolo, and triangle
drop out from the low ones. There are five chords,
high-low-high-low-high.
5:49 [m. 326]--Loud
statements of Theme 1, Part 2 developed in B-flat major
(reached from F major by the preceding chords), then a
half-step lower, in A major. The B-flat major portion
has thumping timpani and ringing triangle on the
short-short-long rhythm.
6:00 [m. 337]--The
purpose of A major is revealed: The relationship of A to C is
the same as that from C to E-flat. The A major was to
prepare for the sudden entrance of Theme 1, Part 3, heard for
the first time in the home key of C rather than E-flat, the
key of its two previous (equally sudden) appearances.
The difference here is that the preceding music is also strong
and loud. Theme 1, Part 3 itself is therefore
intensified with ringing triangle rolls. The strings
play flourishes of Theme 1, Part 2 underneath it.
6:09 [m. 347]--Final
appearance of Theme 1, Part 1. The strings now play only
the descending line in unison. The longer chords are
harmonized. The winds gradually enter. A violin
flourish with a timpani roll leads to a joyous chord with
triangle roll. Three short chords with triangle and
timpani bring the movement to a close.
6:25--END OF MOVEMENT [357
mm.]
4th Movement:
Allegro energico e passionato - Più Allegro (Passacaglia
[Chaconne] with coda). E MINOR, 3/4 and 3/2 time.
FIRST SECTION (Theme and Variations 1-11), 3/4 time.
0:00 [m. 1]--Theme. Brahms
retains the contrabassoon from the previous movement and adds
three trombones, not heard in the other movements. The
eight-bar Chaconne theme is presented by the winds and
brass. It is an ascending scale to the fifth degree (B),
with a chromatic note (A-sharp) on the firth bar. The
theme ends with a motion back to E. The harmonization of
the theme is very ambiguous and suggests A minor almost as
much as E minor (the first chord is an inversion of A
minor). The entrance of timpani and trumpets on the
fifth (chromatic) note gives it the emphasis that will reach
its full fruition in the coda.
0:19 [m. 9]--Variation 1. The
theme is broken up. Timpani and horns play on the first
beat of each bar, plucked strings (with trombones in the first
four bars) on the second beat, and there is a rest on the
third. The harmony is unchanged.
0:34 [m. 17]--Variation 2. The
upbeats to this variation dovetail with the end of Variation
1. The oboe and clarinet begin a smooth line. They
are joined by the other winds. Plucked strings
continue. The harmony is less ambiguous now, more
clearly in E minor (confirmed by the “dominant” chord in the
seventh bar).
0:51 [m. 25]--Variation 3. The
full orchestra plays on this variation, which is louder than
the preceding Variation 2. The winds introduce a
three-note (or three-chord) lower neighbor motion. The
upper strings continue to play plucked notes, but the cellos
and basses play bowed arpeggios. E minor is even more
clearly established here, already in the second bar
There is a timpani roll in the seventh bar.
1:06 [m. 33]--Variation 4. With E
minor now established, the first violins begin a broad,
arching melody above second violins and violas, who play on
syncopated off beats. All strings are now bowed.
Bassoons are the only winds present. The “theme” itself
is now moved to the bass instruments in downward octaves.
1:26 [m. 41]--Variation 5.
Flowing naturally out of Variation 4, the broad melody is
embellished with extra notes. All notes have smaller
duration values. The winds add descending
embellishments, some in a clashing 3-against-2 triplet rhythm.
1:41 [m. 49]--Variation 6. The
contour of the broad melody is changed so that it mostly
arches downward. The violins and violas still play the
melody. Cellos play triplet arpeggios. The wind
commentary is more sparse, largely in two-note descents.
The oboes double the second violins in the last four bars.
1:56 [m. 57]--Variation 7. The
motion is more rhythmic and heavily dotted (sharp long-short
figures). The violins again lead, with woodwind
responses. The “theme” in the bass also uses these
dotted rhythms. The violins introduce a hemiola (two 3/4 bars
rhythmically re-arranged to suggest one 3/2 bar) in the sixth
and seventh bars.
2:12 [m. 65]--Variation 8. The
violins play with even faster notes in a rapid oscillation
with the lower notes moving steadily downward. These
oscillations are broken twice. The wind accompaniment is
slower. In the second half, the variation becomes
suddenly quiet, and a descending chromatic (half-step motion)
flute (and viola) line is added to the violin oscillations,
along with a soft timpani roll. The harmony and the
notes of the theme itself in the bass are altered to suggest a
motion to A minor.
2:28 [m. 73]--Variation 9. This
is essentially an embellished version of Variation 8 (compare
variations 4 and 5). It introduces triplet motion, even
faster than what was heard in Variation 8. The sudden
quiet in the fifth bar is preserved. Oboe and bassoon
(the latter in contrary motion) are added to the descending
chromatic flute line, but the violas no longer play it.
This soft timpani roll is played in the same place. The
oscillations in the second half are now on octaves (on E)
rather than the downward-moving lower line.
2:45 [m. 81]--Variation 10. The
first of two transitional variations. It begins in A
minor, following the endings of Variations 8 and 9, which were
in that key. It is played very quietly, with
alternations between string and wind chords with no
brass. A motion back to E minor at the end is
sidestepped.
3:01 [m. 89]--Variation 11. This
also begins in A minor. The soft chords from Variation
10 are broken up. The first and third bars use triplet
rhythm. There is much emphasis and playing on the second
half of each beat, especially in the violins and violas during
the last four bars. Winds and strings play mostly
together here, and horns are added in the first four
bars. The actual “theme” is still in the low
strings. The last bar appears to be moving toward E
minor again, and while this motion is not sidestepped, the
preparatory “dominant” harmony is delayed until the last bar
so that the arrival of E minor at Variation 12 is stronger.
SECOND SECTION (Variations 12-15), 3/2 time.
3:20 [m. 97]--Variation 12.
Although these variations seem to be at a slower tempo, in
actuality the bars are simply twice as long. Brahms
specifically indicates that the speed of the notes should be
the same. This variation is a very expressive flute solo
with short off-beat accompanying chords from violins, violas,
and horns. The theme is embedded in the long and
beautiful, but somewhat halting flute melody.
4:03 [m. 105]--Variation 13. This
is the first variation in the major key (E major). The
violins and horns continue their soft, detached off-beat
chords. The clarinet and oboe pass gentle rising and
falling lines between them. The cellos and violas add
upward winding lines. In the last four bars, the flutes
join the oboe and clarinets, and all play the off-beat chords
as the strings, including violins, continue with the upward
winding lines. The notes of the theme are buried
inconspicuously in the musical texture. A descending
oboe line leads to the next variation. The resolution
through a plagal
cadence is delayed.
4:38 [m. 113]--Variation 14. The
end of the oboe line merges with this variation, also in
major. The trombones, heard for the first time since
Variation 3, enter in a very solemn chorale with expressive
rests. They are joined by bassoons and horns. The
violas and cellos play short rising arpeggios against the
trombone chorale. The resolution in the last measure is
delayed, again using a plagal cadence (motion from A to
E). A horn line similar to the preceding oboe line in
Variation 13 provides a similar bridge.
5:14 [m. 121]--Variation 15. The
chorale continues (still in major), but now the woodwinds
(except flutes), join the brass instruments, including now
trumpets. The violins join the other strings on the
short responses, the violas and violins playing descending
lines against the rising lines of the cellos. The
resolution of a plagal cadence is again delayed, and this time
it is not fulfilled at the beginning of the next
variation. The flute enters with a similar descending
transitional line, but then it breaks off at a pause on A
minor before the sudden and powerful entry of the next
section. This prepares for the opening A-minor chord of
Variation 16, which is highly similar to the original Theme.
THIRD SECTION (Variations 16-23), 3/4 time.
5:55 [m. 129]--Variation 16. With
great force, the winds begin the variation, back in 3/4 and
back in the minor key. It opens as had the original
Theme, but with somewhat different harmonization (still
beginning on A minor, though, now with A in the bass).
The strings enter with a new and powerful descending scale in
the last four bars. The timpani roll begins in the same
place and is now more sustained. The last chord, with an
F-sharp in the bass, is more dissonant and unstable than it
was in the original Theme
6:08 [m. 137]--Variation 17.
String tremolos swell from a quiet volume. Flute, oboe,
and bassoon play unison two-note phrases on weak beats.
The original theme is in the tremolo cellos, but, as at the end of
Variation 16, the F-sharp bass at the end reveals this group
of variations as developmental and less stable.
6:19 [m. 145]--Variation 18. The
tremolos continue in the violins and violas. Bassoons,
horns, cellos, and basses alternate with flute, oboe,
clarinet, another horn, and trombones on a swelling up-down
neighbor-note motion with dotted rhythm on the second and
third beats. The trombones drop out and the instruments
come more together in the second half of the variation.
This one, unlike the previous two, ends with an E-minor chord.
6:30 [m. 153]--Variation 19. Strings and
horns now alternate with woodwinds four times on a detached,
moving line, arching in the strings and more angular in the
winds. In the last two alternations, the winds play the
more arching version. The strings take the angular
version in the last alternation. The cellos and basses,
along with trombones, provide a solid foundation to the first
three string alternations. This, as with Variations 8,
9, and 13-15, ends with an A-minor chord.
6:41 [m. 161]--Variation 20. A
feverish triplet motion begins in strings, winds, and
horns. There is a strong syncopation with a trombone
blast on the second beats of the first, third, and fifth
bars. The strings play the triplets continuously, while
the winds and horns break in the second and fourth bars.
In the last three bars, the winds abandon the triplets
entirely in favor of punctuating chords. This variation
also ends on an A-minor chord, as does the next one.
6:52 [m. 169]--Variation 21. The
tension increases greatly here, as the flutes and violins play
sweeping upward scales against swelling wind lines, viola
tremolos, and timpani rolls. This occurs in the first
and third bars. The trombones play weak beat blasts on
the second beats of the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth
bars. The fourth, fifth and sixth bars consist of
punctuating chords from winds and strings on the first and
third beats, interrupted by the trombone blasts. The
last two bars are suddenly very quiet. The sweeping,
rapid scales are passed between the strings over a soft
timpani roll and sustained wind and brass chords.
7:04 [m. 177]--Variation 22. This
variation is quiet throughout. Trombones drop out
temporarily. The strings pass an oscillating triplet
rhythm from cellos to violas to violins. The winds play
off-beat chords in straight rhythm. The strings come
together in the fifth bar. In these last four bars, the
triplet oscillations and off-beat chords alternate between
strings and winds. This variation ends on E minor.
7:15 [m. 185]--Variation 23. This
variation is transitional and louder than the last one.
The strings play upward arpeggios in triplet rhythm,
alternating with oscillating motion in the winds, also in
triplet rhythm. The horns play the first six chords of
the theme very distinctly. A strong timpani roll is
heard in the fifth bar (against the “chromatic” fifth note, as
before). The last three bars alternate the string and
wind triplets at the distance of one beat before they come
together in the last bar. These last three bars are on a
sustained preparatory “dominant” harmony, similar to the end
of Variation 11. There is a dramatic pause at the end.
FOURTH SECTION (Variations 24-30)
7:27 [m. 193]--Variation 24.
The structure is quite similar to that of Variation 1, but the
character is entirely different. The downbeats are
played by horns and trumpets with a timpani roll. For
the first six bars, this is a unison E. The responses
(which carry the notes of the theme) are from the strings with
a downward neighbor-note figure in triplets. These are
supported by trombone chords and repeated chords in straight
rhythm from the woodwinds. The variation is a powerful
moment of arrival.
7:39 [m. 201]--Variation 25. This
variation is essentially a more powerful version of Variation
2. Like that variation, it begins on the upbeat from the
previous variation. The oboe and clarinet line is
transferred to forceful violins playing in tremolo, supported by
oboes and bassoons. The triplets from the previous
variation, now in repeated chords, are played by brass,
timpani, flutes, and clarinets. The low strings play
with these triplets, but they play rising octaves in straight
rhythm. After this variation, the trombones drop out
until the coda.
7:52 [m. 209]--Variation 26. This
variation is similar to Variation 3, but it takes the opposite
path from the previous variation, and is more subdued than
Variation 3 had been. The horns take the slow lower
neighbor-note motion. The strings play in quietly
oscillating triplets underneath. In the second half, the
oboes in thirds take over the neighbor-note figures from the
horns. The most important difference is the harmony,
which is shifted to C minor/major. The basses hold that
note for the first four bars, and the variation ends on the
“dominant” chord of C. This harmonic shift helps build
tension in the final variations.
8:05 [m. 217]--Variation 27. This
variation, in full C major, is entirely new. Flutes,
oboes, and clarinets play long two-note descents harmonized in
thirds. The low strings are plucked on the two weak
beats. The violas and some cellos play decorative lines
that begin on an off-beat. In the last four bars, the
violins join with a slow arching motion, also harmonized in
thirds. The variation is quiet and gentle.
8:17 [m. 225]--Variation 28. This
also begins in C major. The flutes, clarinets, and
bassoons play a smooth line, still harmonized in thirds, but
including many biting chromatic notes. The low strings
continue to be plucked, but move to the first two beats.
The violas and violins pass arching triplet arpeggios between
them. The last four bars move strongly from C back to E
with a bass line rising in half-steps. Despite its
transitional and chromatic nature, the variation is one of the
most beautiful since the “slow” section.
8:28 [m. 233]--Variation 29. In
the penultimate variation, which returns to the home key of E
minor, Brahms makes a reference to the main theme of the first
movement. The strings, playing in plucked unison off the
beat, play a continuous chain of descending thirds in the
first four bars, a major characteristic of the first-movement
theme. Against this, the flute, supported by clarinets
and bassoons, plays two-note rising leaps that obscure the bar
line. In the last four bars, the strings take their
bows, a horn enters, and all instruments play in smooth,
partly chromatic lines, the winds moving up at the end while
the strings turn downward.
8:40 [m. 241]--Variation 30. The
last variation makes the descending third chain even more
explicit. It is played loudly and with heavy
accents. The low strings lead the violins in imitation
on the descending third chain at the distance of one
beat. The winds and violas play sharp chords off the
beat (where the plucked unison strings had played the
descending thirds in Variation 29). The fifth bar of the
variation changes to strong upward leaps in the violins, the
off-beat chords continuing in the winds and violas. The
timpani and trumpets enter in the sixth bar.
8:52 [m. 249]--In a
dramatic extension to Variation 30 that acts as a transition
to the coda, the eight-bar units are finally broken. The
leaping violins and cellos widen to octaves and tenths.
The horns also play octaves. These are held across bar
lines, first in the horns and low strings, then in the
violins, then horns and low strings again, creating cross
rhythms and a hemiola
(four 3/4 bars clashing with two implied 3/2 bars). The
winds play chords with the violins. The violas are
isolated, playing thirds in faster syncopation. The
timpani beats become faster and louder, emerging in a roll,
and the tempo slows just enough to prepare the coda. The
last bar is on a striking “augmented” chord that suggests both
E major and C major.
CODA--Più Allegro
9:00 [m. 253]--The
tempo speeds up slightly for the coda. It begins with
what sounds like “Variation 31,” with full winds and brass
(including trombones) blasting the harmonized theme against
cascading string arpeggios played tremolo. It stalls, however, on the
fifth bar, the dissonant note A-sharp (now notated as
B-flat) This note, and the chords supporting it, are
stretched out to four bars with two strong timpani rolls and
two dramatic pauses.
9:08 [m. 261]--In what
sounds like “Variation 32,“ the B-flat slides up to B-natural
in a chord with winds and plucked strings. This slides
again up to C in a second chord, yet again giving that note
and that harmony emphasis. The bass continues to move
chromatically upward with both half-steps and leaps (usually
of a fourth) against strongly arching violin tremolo arpeggios.
The trombones enter in the fifth bar. The “variation” is
extended four bars, vacillating strongly between E major and F
major (a key introduced by the C and the B-flat). It
increases steadily in intensity.
9:21 [m. 273]--“Variation 33”
brings the music back to the realm of A minor and E minor,
despite beginning with a strong implication of F. The
trombones play a rising line that clearly recalls the
Theme. Strings and winds play punctuating chords
separated by rests. This creates another hemiola, with eight 3/4
bars re-arranged into four implied 3/2 bars. The
trombone lines are extended by longer chords and drum
rolls. The “dissonant” note is still notated as B-flat
rather than the A-sharp used throughout the variations.
The “variation” is an extension of the first four bars of the
Theme, facilitated by the implied 3/2 bars.
9:28 [m. 281]--“Variation 34”
begins with a drop in volume, but steadily and dramatically
builds. The violins and winds lead an exhilarating
alternation of ascending and descending harmonized three-note
groups. Timpani, trumpets, and horns punctuate this
while the violas play shimmering repeated thirds in
triplets. This passage is the last of the
“pseudo-variations” in the coda.
9:35 [m. 289]--The
winds appear to play the Theme in faster notes. A loud
syncopated accent from the rest of the orchestra on the
“dissonant” note, again notated as A-sharp, finally interprets
the harmony underneath it as a “German sixth” chord, which
leads to the “dominant” chord of E minor, then strongly
resolves there. The sequence is repeated a second
time. This confirmation of E minor has a severe, even
“tragic” effect.
9:42 [m. 297]--The
last bars consist of a fast and syncopated version of the
Theme, then a series of five cadence gestures beginning with
three-note upbeats, all confirming E minor. The last of these
is extended, winding downward. The final two chords
strongly punctuate the arrival with a timpani roll.
10:02--END OF MOVEMENT [311
mm.]
END OF SYMPHONY
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