First Theme example essay topic

Review on Brahms's Third Symphony Symphony No. 3, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Op. 90, F Major Allegro con brioAndantePoco allegrettoallegroBrahms was at the zenith of his powers when he wrote the third Symphony. He finished it during the summer of 1883, in Wiesbaden, whence in early May, soon after his fiftieth birthday. We can picture Brahms that summer, in the very prime of his life, his great intellectual and emotional powers fully developed and his mastery widely acknowledged, walking much about Wiesbaden, mediating the strong and happy music that is third symphony by Brahms. None of the other three symphonies by Brahms is there a happy balance of freshness of inspiration with technical mastery and maturity.

This is also a hard symphony to perform well. Xiao Lu Li, the music director and principal conductor of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra remarks: It's like a battle. The general and soldiers fought bravely and won the battle. The general came back without arrogance, sitting on the chair with a cup of coffee and said confidently, I did it.

The symphony contains four movements. The boldness of the motto theme, F-A flat-F, sounded in the opening of the first movement by horns, trumpets and wood wind caused peoples' attention. The impetuous main theme continued then with the passionate downward sweep of the violins. Vigor was enhanced. Rhythm was then quickened first in horn then in trumpet and finally in clarinets and other winds. The first theme then quieted to a cadence leading to the second theme.

The beautiful second theme appeared in the clarinet and then followed by oboes which delightfully made the variation. Then a gradual increase of animation forced the theme all the way up to the vigorous cadence. The recapitulation of themes followed an agitation and restlessness which led to a new and stormy climax which in turn gave way to blander harmonies and quiet rhythms. The first movement ends to the first theme in quiet feeling. A great contrast was found in the second movement, a hymn-like happy mediation of andante. Three phrases of the tune which was given to clarinets and bassoons, has its cadence echoed by low strings.

Passages developed from the first theme then led gradually to its return in its original calm mood after a brief climax. A brief coda was made by a new and happy melody referring to the main theme. The third movement was lighter than any of the other movements. But the middle section referred to the single note motive which was grown as symphony progressed. With the finale the grand returned, peoples were at once concerned with weighty issues.

The suspension was highly impressive making peoples feel something great impending. The themes were many and various. But they flowed from one to another smoothly. Then the movement was fully developed as the exuberant conclusion theme came out, fast and furiously.

There also followed a series of developments some ingenious and some powerful. Then the movement went into end. The loud horn-proclamation died slowly through sublet changing harmonies, until by a modulation. Then the entire color and atmosphere of the music changed to half-light. The original halting form of the theme recurred briefly but only for a moment. With the development of the melody, in slow rhythm, soft entrances of four initial motives echoed from bass to treble leading to a timid but happy and confident reaffirmation of the motto from the first movement.

The theme now reentered calmly in wind and brass with the string weaving about it. As the solemn strains died away, the first theme of this movement was shadowed suggested with which the violins drew the curtain.