The third movement of the Second Symphony is in G-major and marked Allegretto grazioso (Quasi Andantino) (moderately fast, gracefully (as if slower)). It represents one of the more interesting nineteenth century evolutions in form.
Let me explain: in the early days (Haydn et al.) the symphony featured an elegant dance movement, the minuet; then, replacing it, came the hustle and bustle of the scherzo (Beethoven et al.); but, by Brahms’ time, several composers (Mendelssohn and Schumann, for instance) had thought to combine minuet and scherzo to create a hybrid form, the intermezzo – such a hybrid is Brahms’ Allegretto.
It starts in minuet mood with an oboe solo:
then comes the first scherzo:
both oboe and opening tempo return for a second variant of the minuet:
but, before long, we’re in the midst of a second scherzo:
finally, the minuet reasserts itself; and after moving through several keys, leads to a coda:
The composer adds a further layer of interest by making each of the sections – including the two scherzos – variations of the opening.
You can listen to the ‘theme’ and each ‘variation’ separately on the player below:
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73
00:00 Allegro non troppo
14:50 Adagio non troppo
24:34 Allegretto grazioso (quasi andantino)
29:56 Allegro con spirito
There are four concertos in all by Brahms, two for piano, one for violin and a double concerto for violin and ‘cello.
The two keyboard works are separated by some twenty-two years. The first was completed in 1858, when the composer was twenty-five; the second in 1881 at the age of 47. It’s an interesting exercise to compare the two:
Piano concerto No. 1 in d, Op. 15
(00:41) Maestoso
(24:10) Adagio
(38:32) Rondo. Allegro non troppo
Piano concerto No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83
Allegro non troppo 00:30
Allegro appassionato 20:00
Andante 29:55
Allegretto grazioso—Un poco più presto 42:26
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Pontarddulais!
The Art of Listening 