The breathless melancholy of Brahms 4th

Brahms' iconic Symphony no.4, his perfect symphony according to many musicologists which begins with a falling third and builds around this tiny motif in the rest of the piece.
Here's a small harmonic and motivic analysis of the A section in the first movement.
Recording (Karajan): • Video

[@anled.composition]

Another great analysis video, thanks for sharing ! Measure 2, why a64 is analyzed as VI and not iv64 ?

[@skylarlimex]

Ah yes thanks for pointing that out, that should be iv instead! Though i wouldn't add the inversion since the E acts as a pedal here

[@anled.composition]

​@@skylarlimex Ok thanks !

[@bismarckluna]

It's so incredibly hard to make such a beautiful singing melody that's entirely the result of logical motivic development and counterpoint.

[@MosesM514]

It's hard to comprehend why these amazing composers made these decisions to use these devices or modulate to these keys (apart from the obvious structural trend of having the B section on the V). I wonder if some of these devices or modulations were chosen because Brahms knew what he wanted it to sound like and chose those through his experience, or if they were happy accidents while sketching possibly on the piano.

[@skylarlimex]

I wouldn't be surprised if it were both honestly haha but i think it would be more the former while stravinsky himself admitted to the latter

[@bibobabu8756]

​@@skylarlimexThere's a book where Brahms talks about this

[@walterbova7205]

@@bibobabu8756 what's the title?

[@raymondgood6555]

I don’t think anything of Brahms is an accident. We are talking about the greatest musical mind of the last 200 years. He planned everything out in his mind before setting it down on paper.

[@WALT1Z]

​@@raymondgood6555Like any renowned composers. They all planned the whole thing in their mindq before writing it down.

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

bravo Johannes! and skylar...thanks for this... i recall as if it were yesterday the first time i listened closely to brahms, in 10th grade....still thrilled 53 years later...

[@Coolbardie]

I'm glad I don't understand the technical aspects of this music. I can just enjoy it for its glorious sound. Before it becomes more passionate, the rhythm suggests to me the gentle rise and fall of ocean waves. ❤

[@abrahamjh5742]

The music has a higher tone than others I’ve heard, and I quite like it

[@lluisrafalessole-classical5068]

Fantastic music 🎶

[@ferenc_l]

These analyses are great! Also, is this the version for two pianos or some reduction for solo piano?

[@skylarlimex]

Solo piano!

[@zhihuangxu6551]

@@skylarlimex What's the source of this sheet music?

[@clivemossmoon3611]

Aw man, keep going....!

[@danielapaparini-jj8kw]

Grazie per un fantastico Brahms

[@skylarlimex]

Di niente!

[@FueganTV]

Isn't the second chord A minor though?

[@hoon_sol]

Looks like it. VI would have been a C major, but the notes are definitely A, C, and E, i.e. an A minor chord. Maybe a mistake on the part of whoever made the video.

[@juanuceda401]

Please, which recording is this excerpt from?

[@skylarlimex]

In the description

[@Charlie_Miles]

The second bar: VI 🤣

[@hoon_sol]

Yeah, that's weird. Seems to confuse the interval of the E to the C (which is an ascending minor sixth) with the actual chord, which is clearly A minor.