life is undeniably stern and grim,e.g.
[Music]
In measure 17 there enters a closing theme, sung by the oboe,
of ineffable beauty which is used in the third part as the climax
of the movement. It surely seems to come from another world
and is one of the most sublime melodies by Brahms or any one
else. Its climax is impressively united with the main theme in
the bass,e.g.
[Music]
The middle portion, beginning in measure 38, is a meditation—
in dialogue form—for solo oboe and clarinet, worked up to an
eloquent climax in the key of the relative minor, C-sharp. The
third part, beginning measure 66, with the addition of some
lovely modulatory changes, corresponds to part one; save that
the melody is varied by Brahms’s favorite device of three notes
to a beat in one voice against two in another. Beginning in mea-
sure 90, the wondrous closing theme of the first part is sung by a
solo violin, reinforced by oboe and horn. It is finally entrusted,
in the home key, to the horn alone, above which the solo violin
soars in ecstacy,e.g.
[Music]
Some diminuendo, descending passages lead to a reminiscent
portion of the first theme and then, in measure 116, the grim
motto enters, but this time without prevailing; for, in measures
122-124, it is finally exorcised and the movement closes with the
seraphic calm of a soft, rich chord in E major, above which is
heard a star-like note on the solo violin.
The third movement is an Allegretto; it being Brahms’s cus-
tom in each[259] of his symphonies to substitute a movement of
this type in place of the conventional Scherzo or Minuet. This
movement clearly in three-part form, is thrown in to furnish re-
lief after the emotional tension of the movement preceding. It
has no obvious organic connection with the other movements,
but is just the right thing in its surroundings, with a note of
vitality which does much to brighten the scene and to prepare
the way for the Finale. The opening theme in A-flat major is
in two phrases offivemeasures each—a favorite rhythm with
Brahms—given out by the clarinet over a pizzicato bass in the