Symphony no. 4 in E minor, op. 98 JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-1897) It is the nature of great composers to be able to combine the past and the present in their works, and even predict the future. Bach used the most advanced polyphony (even for our time) and daring melodies, yet within the Baroque style. Mozart created the greatest and most powerful dramas and wrote Romantic melodies - within Classical style. Beethoven created the most complex and monumental structures (characteristic of late Romantic Era and twentieth century music), using the most simple materials (typical of ancient music). Brahms, who thoroughly studied and researched European music from the Renaissance until his time, used his vast knowledge to create his own unique musical idiom, which combines the old and the new and evokes the spirit of the great composers, whom he admired. Bach's contrapuntal richness, Beethoven's intensity, Schubert's Viennese elegance and the German Romantic soul of Schumann and Mendelssohn, are all evident in Brahms's works. Even in his lifetime, Brahms was ascribed to the conservative group of the late Romantic composers, as opposed to reformist composers Wagner, Liszt and Bruckner. However, the influence of "conservative" ca. 39 mins. Brahms on the music of the twentieth century is no less than that of the latter group of composers. Brahms's music greatly influenced one of the leading composers of the twentieth century - Schoenberg, as well as other prominent composers such as Hindemith, Reger and Nielsen. Brahms's genius was detected in his youth and his first master pieces for solo piano, for chamber ensembles and for voice were written in his twenties. Nevertheless, he approached symphonic music much more carefully. He composed his two orchestral Serenades at the age of 25, but his first symphony was completed when he was 43 and his second - a year later. His symphonies display more maturity, unity and sophistication than the Serenades, and this could lead to some conclusions as to why Brahms's symphonies were composed at a relatively late time in his life. Two of Brahms's four symphonies are written in minor keys: the First in C minor and the Fourth in E minor. The chosen keys reflect the different character of the symphonies. Symphony no. 1 is written in the same key as Mozart's Piano Concerto, K. 491 and Piano Sonata, K. 457, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Piano Sonata, op. 111 - a key of drama, power and tragedy. Allegro non troppo Andante moderato Allegro giocoso Allegro energico e passionato
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