Karajan - Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73 - III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andantino)

The Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73 was composed by Johannes Brahms in the summer of 1877 during a visit to the Austrian Alps. Its gestation was brief in comparison with the fifteen years which Brahms took to complete his First Symphony. The symphony is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, and strings.

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).

III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andantino)

Pizzicato cello provides the backdrop at the beginning but the oboe carries the main melody. A contrasting second subject marked "Presto ma non assai" begins with the string instruments and the full orchestra develops the theme. Bar 107 returns to the main tempo and gentle mood but the idyll setting is again disrupted in bar 126 when the earlier Presto marking makes a re-entry. Brahms yet again diverts the piece back into its principal tempo (bar 194) and thereafter to its peaceful close.

In the third movement, Allegro Grazioso, we hear a very light articulated sections, this could be due to the influence of Mozart or Schubert. This lighter element provides a contrast to the previous two movements. This movement is the shortest in the symphony and his briefest symphonic movement. In this movement, we see a use of thematic variation. A shown in example 3.1, we see a rhythmic change of the main theme. The rhythmic change is due to the changing of the meter. This changing meter may have been done to imitate a baroque style dance suite. The introduction is introduced as a waltz, this is evident by the ¾ meter. The waltz is then rhythmically transformed into what sound like a gigue, the meter is changed to 2/4 time and is rhythmically driven by the strings, which have now also taken over the theme. He also uses 3/8 time to help incorporate the use of this dance like rhythms.

In this movement, we see many retrospective characteristics come into play. This movement is written in the style of a dance suite. We see elements of waltz and gigues that are portrayed by the key signatures. An interesting quality in this movement is how Brahms chose his instrumentation. In this movement, it more closely resembles a classical or pre-classical ensemble. We see a diminished use of the brass instruments and see a increased dominance of the string ensemble with emphasis on the flutes, oboes, and fagottes. A classical and pre-classical adoption of instrumentation sees the cello providing harmony to the woodwinds.

In this movement, it breaks the tradition of using sonata from. Although there is a return to something that may act like a development, it is returning to a variation of the main theme. My only conclusion is that this movement was written in a rondo form. The use of the rondo form can be tied to the use of retrospective elements in Brahms music, seeing as the rondo form was commonly used in Baroque music. We see several return to the main theme, although they may be somewhat varied. As show bellow in example 3.3, Theme A at measure 1 represents the main theme. It then transitions into theme B at measure 33. There is then a variation of the main theme at measure 107, creating theme a. This quickly transitions into what could be considered the development section at measure 126, when theme C is introduced. Theme A is then brought back, acting like a recapitulation, at measure 194. A coda containing elements of the main theme is used to end the movement at measure 219.

-Wikipedia-

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[ternitamas]

Where did you get the info that you included? I checked and the analysis you added here is not on wikipedia

[lau399]

@ternitamas -- They might have changed it cause it was from wikipedia.

[sweetsteph152]

lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala­

[blimpy49]

@sweetsteph152

that's a good little baby. Before long you'll be taking your first steps!

[ternitamas]

@lau399 Oh, I see. Thanks!

[morinoroba]

Ahhh I love it!!!!!!