Symphony Atlas

Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

188541 min

This guide follows Brahms’s Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (1885) in four parts: Allegro non troppo (sonata form), Andante moderato (sonata form), Allegro giocoso (sonata form) and Allegro energico e passionato (theme and variations).

Recording: Wiener Philharmoniker, Carlos Kleiber

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AnalysisComments
  1. I non troppo · Sonata form
  2. II · Sonata form
  3. III · Sonata form
  4. IV e · Theme and variations
I non troppoSonata form0:03–13:17

The strings open in mid-thought with a that sighs downwards in thirds, and the woodwinds one beat later. Brahms builds much of the from that chain of falling thirds. There is no repeat of the : the follows, and then a third . The begins with the in the home , so its start is disguised, and it sinks to a hushed triple-piano before the arrives almost unnoticed. The builds to a .

  1. :
IISonata form13:21–24:47
III Sonata form24:52–31:01
IV e Theme and variations31:06–40:37

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

At a glance

  1. I. Allegro non troppoSonata form · 13 min · 441 bars · half note ≈ 70 bpm
  2. II. Andante moderatoSonata form · 11 min · 118 bars · eighth note ≈ 65 bpm
  3. III. Allegro giocosoSonata form · 6 min · 357 bars · quarter note ≈ 121 bpm
  4. IV. Allegro energico e passionatoTheme and variations · 10 min · 311 bars · quarter note ≈ 117 bpm

Instruments: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Timpani, Percussion, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double bass

Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, I. Allegro non troppo: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98?
About 41 min in this recording, in 4 movements: I 13 min, II 11 min, III 6 min and IV 10 min.
What form are its movements in?
I: sonata form, II: sonata form, III: sonata form and IV: theme and variations.
Which instruments play in Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98?
Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Timpani, Percussion, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello and Double bass.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: I half note ≈ 70 bpm, II eighth note ≈ 65 bpm, III quarter note ≈ 121 bpm and IV quarter note ≈ 117 bpm.
Is there a score of Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98?
Yes, of every movement.

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In the catalog

Johannes BrahmsSymphoniesRomantic periodE minorSonata formTheme and variations

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