| Symphony No. 2 (brahms) |
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In the Second Symphony, Brahms preserved the structural principles of the Classical Symphony , in which two lively outer movements frame a slow second movement followed by a short Scherzo :
The cheerfulness of the Symphony has been likened with the pastoral mood of Ludwig Van Beethoven 's Sixth Symphony . In contrast, Brahms' First Symphony was marked by its sombre Tonality ( C Minor ). The composer had written to his publisher ( November 22 1877 ) that the forthcoming symphony would be music of melancholy, that indeed the score must come out in mourning ( {Link without Title} ). And while the work is not tragic nor especially dramatic, the mood of the first two movements, largely quiet or contemplative and reaching climaxes in the minor, suggests that this letter may not have been entirely a creation of wit. The last two movements are lighter in mood but also much briefer. The premiere was given on December 30 1877 in Vienna under the direction of Hans Richter . A typical performance lasts around 40 minutes. |
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