I'm turning into a Symphony type of guy - Brahms Symphony No.1 | Classical Music Reaction 

Brahms fuzzed over this symphony for 20 years. He started work on it in the 1850's and finished it in 1876. He was so insecure about trying to write symphonic music. I think he said something like: "Do you know how difficult it is to try anything like this when you hear the footsteps of such a giant behind you?" referring to Beethoven.

Just the first bars of the symphony are so incredibly powerful You feel rage, you feel agony, but you also feel longing and desire and dreams and ambition. Adore Brahms

I love this symphony; it's the first one I ever played so it has a special place in my heart. Brahms was terribly insecure about writing symphonies for many years. When he was just 20 years old, Schumann (who was not only a composer but one of Europe's most prominent music critics) proclaimed him Beethoven's heir, and from that day onward he was terrified of writing a symphony that didn't live up to the hype. In his 20s, he called his first two large-scale orchestral works "Serenades" even though they could easily have been called symphonies, just because he was afraid to use the title "Symphony." (By the way, they're both pretty good.) When he finished this symphony he had literally been working on it for half of his life. He started sketching out the first ideas for it when he was 21 and started seriously working on it when he was 22, revised it endlessly, and when he finally decided it was finished and ready for the public in 1876, he was 43 and already famous, having been wildly successful with just about every type of instrumental music except symphonies. And it certainly lived up to all the hype that had been building up for so long, with people calling it Beethoven's 10th which was high praise for Brahms. It also broke Brahms's mental block about symphonies; he composed his second symphony in a single summer the very next year. And one thing that might make it more special for you: Brahms was born in Hamburg and lived there until he was 29, so you might be able to picture him forming some of the ideas for this symphony while walking some of the same streets you know. Oh, a thought on being a "symphony type of guy": you're definitely not the only one. Ever since Beethoven, most composers have considered the symphony to be the vehicle for their grandest or most profound artistic statements. Usually orchestras anchor their concerts with a symphony: the traditional concert format starts with a shorter piece, followed by a concerto before intermission, and then the entire time after the intermission is filled by a symphony or something of similar scale.

It really is a masterpiece. It made such a huge impression to people at that time, they called it Beethovens Symphony No. 10. I believe this was an honor for Brahms, because he adored Beethoven like most of the great composers that came after Ludwig van.

Today I learned..that Dorati has great Brahms....This was really good!...Hate slow goopy brahms...this was loud, clear, swift and heavy..a BANGER...what a recording. I used to have some difficulty with this work...this recording might be my favorite now (even over Jochum). Also heard his Brahms 3rd (you watched the 4th mov. on twitch) and it was also amazing so I recommend you keeping with Dorati for that one too!

Composers' most ambitious works often take the form of symphonies. I like that about symphonies. I also enjoy the clever techniques composers use to achieve cohesiveness across such large forms. I usually don't notice most of them on first listen, but they make the works rewarding to study, and I'm sure they have a subconscious effect even the first time. One kind of example from this work: material from the slow introductions of the first and last movements reappear in other guises later in the movements. The flute line at 1:25 reappears at 3:50. The pitches the strings play at 2:18-2:34 are the same pitches the theme in the violins at 3:38 begins with. 12:56 is a reminiscence of the opening bars of the movement (0:49). The violin line at 30:08 is the same shape as the first seven notes of the melody at 34:41. The pizzicato at 30:44 returns at 38:47. The violins at 40:45 are playing an accelerated version of the first three notes of 32:45, which becomes clearer in retrospect when the melody proper returns at 40:56. Another kind of example, which links the movements together: the descending figure in the lower voices that opens the finale (30:05) appears as a four-note interjection from the strings at 27:55 in the third movement, and as the first four notes of the melody in the oboe at 17:38 in the second movement (with the first note elongated). The melody from the start of the third movement (25:08) returns immediately following (28:04) this interjection, which encourages the listener to hear the first three notes of this melody as a major-key version of the interjection. One can also consider the return of the melody to have begun at 27:58 rather than 28:04, an elongation of its first note that draws a closer parallel with the oboe melody from the second movement than its earlier appearances had.

Hahaha, Gidi saying "this symphony hasn't disappointed me up 'till now" after 3rd mvt, while I'm grinning uncontrolably, knowing what's coming in the finale :D

Brahms took his inspiration from Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies in this piece, as well as Wagner's Prelude to Tristan and Isolde - all of which pieces you know, Gidi. There's also a reference to the London Chimes, in acknowledgement of Oxford University's bestowal on Brahms of an honorary Doctorate of Music.

this symphony will always be one of my favorites. its so beautiful is so many ways, the first movement is majestic, the second and third are sublime, and the last movement is incredible (especially the return of the trombone theme in the coda. im so glad you enjoy this piece as much as i do!! :)

Yeah, imagine labouring over one work for two decades, feeling insecure, constantly doubting urself, and finally, at age 43, coming out with this gem! Was definitely worth it, papa Beethoven would surely be proud 😌

It took me a while to really understand and appreciate Brahms but once I did it was awesome. Symphony No. 1 is absolutely incredible.

Glad you connected to Brahms at last :) You reacted to the 4th, my personal favorite, and you were not that impressed, but it may be harder to grasp when one is not familiar with Brahms. This 1st is more staight-forward. I love the poisonous, glacial and adventurous feel of the first movement, and that last cathartic movement oh my god, it's such a relief of joy. As far the second-time reaction goes, I think it's a great idea because just reacting for the first time to a piece does not tell everything about the joy to discover a piece. Most of them can be fully appreciated only with some dedication and it's always something special when one discovers a part they did not understand or appreciate the first time, or feel the music more the second or third time.

This is such an amazing recording, Gidi. What a discovery. Thank you.

Check out Richard Atkinson's analysis of this piece btw

The energy of the first movement is remarkable. Beethoven would like of that.

Dorati's is actually a good recording of this, but the great recording that everyone always talks about (and which I also endorse) is Otto Klemperer / Philharmonia Orchestra (another of the big London orchestras), which I think was recorded in 1959. It has a fantastic sense of tension and palpable excitement, along with what has been described as a "granitic" or "monolithic" or "monumental" quality of solidity. Though this Dorati is perhaps a bit fleeter and the faster pace is kind of refreshing.

Being symphony addict is a good madness.

Brahms worked on this symphony for 15 years, bcz he was insane perfectionist, and this work should be triumph of his own style, not just Beethoven/Schumann's follow. Thanks for that it got slow introduction among other

Try Dvorak Symphony No. 7, the recording by Vaclav Neumann with the Czech Philharmonic (either recording, there's an earlier analog one and a later digital one).

J. S. Bach reactions needed!

The introduction of the First movement goes until time 3:35, so the symphonie (in terms) just starts after these time!

Have you visited the Brahms Museum in your city? He was born in Hamburg. I would love to see your review someday! Also, I would like to see your review on his beautiful violin sonata No1 known as “rain song”. Brahms is known for dense and rigid structural symphonies, but in his small pieces he shows very different side of him- sensitive, emotional and tender. Rain Song is dedicated to Clara Schumann (who Brahms was secretly in one-sided love with) when she was grieving her beloved son’s death. She said in her letter that “this piece really takes me to the heaven”. Its warm and consoling melody always get me tears.

Hey GIDI! I agree, this symphony is probably Brahms’ best one. I was wondering when you were thinking of getting back on the Mahler or Bruckner train? It’s been a minute

Hey! Puedes reaccionar al concierto para piano "Memo Flora" de Takashi Yoshimatsu. Es bellísimo, recién lo descubrí y me encantaría ver tu reacción. Saludos! PS. Si te gustó el concierto también recomendaría la 4ta sinfonía del mismo compositor.

Hey Gidi, if you liked this one I bet you like Schumann's 3rd symphony! To me, they are kind of similar, but of course also very different. There's so much more yet to explore!

I agree, I'm mostly a symphonic guy, symphonies and piano and violin concertos mostly.

I really recommend Mahler 8 conducted by Bernstein ngl, it’s really good!

Another great reaction. Symphonies, concerto's, symphonic poems, anything symphonic.... I skipped the piano solo reactions sorry. Still recommending Saent-Saens Symphony 3 btw. Rimsky 3 is also nice and underrated. And please try Mussorgsky Bald Mountain, (not a symphony but symponic)?

Brahms Song of the Fates...rarely performed & not well known..But its something else

On to the next Mahler symphony. Here is #5 with Pittsburg SO under Manfred Honeck, a powerful performance: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Rv6gKituIfY.html

I enjoyed this recording of the Brahms no 1, an early favourite of mine and still my favourite of his four. Speaking of symphonies, Antal Dorati was responsible for a landmark series of recordings - a complete cycle of Haydn symphonies. All 104 of them - barely a weak piece among them all. He can rightly claim to be the "father" of the symphony, and the string quartet....

I find this performance too fast and aggressive, but with Brahms First, you really can't lose. By the way I think you did the 4th a while back, dramatic and very sombre piece. I highly recommend the second and third as well! The second is my favorite of the four. It is absolutely gorgeous.

Wonderful!

Now we know where they stole the Superman music from- Brahms 1st finale