Brahms, the four symphonies / Walter Frisch.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Frisch, Walter, 1951-

Series:

Monuments of western music

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897. Symphonies.

Brahms, Johannes.

Symphony.

Physical Description:

xiv, 226 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Schirmer Books ; London : Prentice Hall International, [1996]

Summary:

This book is the definitive guide to Johannes Brahms's four symphonies. It presents an engaging and thorough treatment of the genesis, structure, reception, and performance history of these internationally admired and frequently performed works. Walter Frisch provides a sensitive analytical commentary on the symphonies as well as a consideration of their place within Brahms's oeuvre, within the symphonic repertory of his day, and within the broader musical culture of nineteenth-century Germany and Austria. Frisch also pays particular attention to the evolution of performance style since Brahms's symphonies were first heard.The book begins with an investigation of the different ideologies of the symphony in the decades leading up to Brahms's First. Brahms's early development as a composer is also examined. Frisch then devotes a detailed chapter to each of the four symphonies, including an in-depth analysis of each movement. A separate chapter treats the reception of Brahms's symphonies, and the book concludes with a history of the performances of the symphonies in the concert hall and in early recordings.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The Symphony in Brahms's World 1

The "Great Symphony" after Beethoven 1

The Symphonic "Crisis" at Midcentury 5

The Alternative of Program Music 12

The Symphonic Style 15

Social and Institutional Aspects 18

Bruch and Bruckner: A Context for Brahms 20

Chapter 2 Brahms's Path to the Symphony 29

First Attempts at Orchestral Writing 30

Toward the C-Minor Symphony: Brahms's "First Maturity" 32

The German Requiem 35

Final Steps: The Works of 1873 36

Chapter 3 The First Symphony, OP. 68 45

First movement: Un poco sostenuto

Allegro 46

Second movement: Andante sostenuto 52

Third movement: Un poco Allegretto e grazioso 56

Fourth movement: Adagio

Piu andante

Allegro non troppo, ma con brio 58

Chapter 4 The Second Symphony, OP. 73 67

First movement: Allegro non troppo 68

Second movement: Adagio non troppo 75

Third movement: Allegretto grazioso (Quasi Andantino) 80

Fourth movement: Allegro con spirito 85

Chapter 5 The Third Symphony, OP. 90 91

First movement: Allegro con brio 92

Second movement: Andante 100

Third movement: Poco Allegretto 105

Fourth movement: Allegro 107

Chapter 6 The Fourth Symphony, OP. 98 115

First movement: Allegro non troppo 117

Second movement: Andante moderato 123

Third movement: Allegro giocoso 127

Fourth movement: Allegro energico e passionato 130

Chapter 7 Patterns of Reception 141

The Symphonies in the Concert Hall 142

The Beethoven Problem 145

Symphony as Chamber Music 147

Heart vs. Brain 152

Hermeneutic Traditions 154

Chapter 8 Traditions of Performance 163

Orchestral Size and Arrangement 164

Orchestral Technique 165

Interpretation: The Richter-Bulow Dichotomy 166

The Coda of the First Movement of the First Symphony: A Comparison 173

Weingartner and Brahms 177

The First Movement of the Second Symphony: A Comparison 181

Norrington's Brahms 185.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-221) and index.

ISBN:

0028707656

OCLC:

34788007