Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 3 Analysis

Johannes Brahms, a great German composer and pianist of the Romantic period, composed symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, piano, organ, and voice and chorus. He is considered as both a traditionalist and an innovator and his music is firmly rooted in structures and compositional techniques of the Classical masters. He has contributed a lot to music by composing the master pieces such as Symphony no. 3. The Symphony no. 3 is written in F major. The symphony involves the instruments such as flute, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, contrabassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, timpani, and strings. The symphony consists of the four movements. The first one is the Allegro con brio which is written in F major, in sonata form. The three-note motto begins

the movement and is found sometimes with treble and sometimes with the bass line. The conflict between the F major and minor and the A flat is found. A flat major is found in the second theme which is gentler in nature. The music ends with the general repeat of the opening motto. The second movement is the Andante which is written in C major and has three motto notes within the theme. The movement ends with the initial theme being played very quietly. The third one is the Poco Allegretto written in the C minor and scherzo form. It also consists of three note mottos within the theme and the melody is sad. It gets the audiences emotional whereas the A-flat major in the middle of the section lightens up the mood. The movement ends with the string chords played pizzicato accompanied by the woodwind. The fourth is the Allegro which is the last movement that uses the sonata form and has three note mottos with mute strings in the background accompanied by the gentle sound of the woodwinds and brass. The first thirteen minutes that is during the first movement I could imagine myself enjoying the nature, enjoying the warmth of sunlight and the gentle wind passing by me as if trying to play with me.

It has a very nice combination of the woodwind and violin. The music goes slow for first three minutes and suddenly it goes fast with the sound of violin and slows down again with the melodious sound of the flute and violin and repeats again giving the feeling of nature and after eleven minutes it is in very high notes. And again, from the 14 minutes, begins the second movement with the melodious sound of violin followed by other instruments. This part is very sad and attractive part of the orchestra too. It feels tragedy and sad music. The music is slow and in low notes. The flute in the fourteen minute is so attaching and alluring. I felt like listening to it again and again. The third movement then begins from twenty-three minute which also feels sad music. It reminds me of the good old childhood days. After the thirty minutes comes the most powerful and weighty part that is the fourth movement. It ends comfortably in F major. Among the four symphonies by Johannes Brahms, I liked the Symphony no.3. And I would like to thank Mr. Madere for giving us with such assignments which help us relax and get free from our

stress.