Classics Explained: Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 2 - CD

CD - 1

Johannes Brahms

An Introduction to … BRAHMS

 

1. Introduction; opening horn call and piano's answer

00:01:50

 

2. Rising three-note scalewise pattern

00:00:25

 

3. Quicker, descending six-note 'answer'

00:00:18

 

4. Second, answering phrase

00:00:32

 

5. First Main Theme completed by orchestra

00:00:50

 

6. Peace shattered as piano bursts back in like a tiger

00:01:24

 

7. Variant of opening horn call in bass

00:00:19

 

8. Orchestra returns; beginning of Exposition proper

00:02:25

 

9. Big, 'singing' theme in orchestra; piano 'forgotten'

00:00:41

 

10. Call to arms by strings; marshalling of orchestral forces

00:01:03

 

11. Piano re-enters fry with massive expansion of opening figure

00:00:48

 

12. Piano 'explores' two main facets of opening theme

00:00:45

 

13. Transition. sense of key weakened. Piano and orchestra come together

00:01:07

 

14. Piano and orchestra 'argue' over speed of thematic three-note rise

00:00:41

 

15. Piano and orchestra in friendly dialogue before piano falls away

00:01:28

 

16. 'Winged' harmonic shadow of pure pianistic tone-colour

00:00:45

 

17. New 'transitional' theme from orchestra developed by piano

00:01:51

 

18. After indecision and discussion, the mood suddenly turns playful

00:00:26

 

19. Reminder of Second Main Theme in its original form

00:00:43

 

20. Ttransfomation of Second Main Theme by piano

00:00:40

 

21. Piano hijacks orchestra's 'call to arms'

00:00:43

 

22. Piano and orchestra, now allies, explore theme, but with piano leading

00:01:08

 

23. Dramatic eruption of orchestra leads to the Development section

00:01:13

 

24. Pianistic 'tiger' replaced by gentle reflective, soft-spoken poet

00:00:30

 

25. Transformed 'tiger' theme amicably shared by piano and orchestra

00:00:44

 

26. An apparently new theme - but Battlle Hymn of the Republic?

00:00:41

 

27. Brief, downward-driving section prepares for the Recapitulation

00:00:54

 

28. On the threshold of the Recapitulation

00:00:54

 

29. Recapitulation: The Magical Return

00:01:06

 

30. From Gate-crashing Tiger to Celestial Tenderness - and a surprise

00:01:17

 

31. And unexpected and portentus change of mood, suggesting tragedy

00:01:01

 

32. Summation

00:00:30

 

33. First Movement (Complete)

00:17:16

 

34. Second Movement: The upward-driving opening gambit, piano alone

00:00:13

 

35. Downward-driving answer from lower strings

00:00:27

 

36. Theme vs Melody

00:00:58

 

37. Eerie, unharmonised, 'white' sound of Second Theme

00:00:45

 

38. Second Theme taken up and developed by piano

00:01:25

 

39. Expectation and surprise; harmonic fluidity and intensifying drama

00:01:40

 

40. Return (and transformation) of Theme Two

00:00:41

 

41. Theme One returns in orchestra; Theme Three emerges in major mode

00:01:00

 

42. Sequence of fragmentary episodes begins with unexpected fanfare

00:00:58

 

43. Variant of Theme Three in piano

00:00:36

 

44. Rescored variant of 'fanfare' theme; from grandeur to solemnity

00:00:21

 

45. Rhapsodic variant of fanfare, this time for piano alone

00:00:24

 

46. Recapitulation of opening, with piano and orchestra reversing roles

00:01:07

 

47. Theme Two transformed by new instrumentation

00:00:36

 

48. Cue and Second Movement (Complete)

00:09:23

CD - 2

Johannes Brahms

An Introduction to … BRAHMS

 

1. Introduction, cue and First Main Theme

00:01:53

 

2. Theme One taken up by strings and solo oboe; piano's entry

00:01:20

 

3. Complex variant of Theme One with very different speed and rhythm

00:00:42

 

4. Orchestra and piano in mixed variants of Theme One, now intensified

00:01:10

 

5. Theme Two, hushed and 'tuneless', with piano, clarinets and strings

00:01:28

 

6. Oboe Theme returns, now delicately embroidered by the piano

00:00:46

 

7. Cue and Third Movement (Complete)

00:11:50

 

8. Finale: Introduction, cue and Main Theme

00:00:57

 

9. Violins take up tune, with winds and piano accompanying

00:00:24

 

10. Piano introduces Part 2 of the main theme

00:00:37

 

11. Part 3 of the theme, led by piano, in 'fiercely' self-confident mood

00:00:54

 

12. First Episode, Part 1

00:00:47

 

13. First Episode, Part 2

00:00:23

 

14. Piano hands theme over to clarinets and bassoons

00:00:15

 

15. First Episode, Part 3, in piano, first; then flutes and oboes

00:00:40

 

16. Strings and flutes take theme, with bubbling commentary from piano

00:00:28

 

17. Tipsy dancers (piano and winds) return, tiring; strings take over

00:00:38

 

18. In the central Episode, the orchestra throws down a dramatic challenge

00:00:28

 

19. ... to which the piano duly responds with a stormy outburst

00:00:10

 

20. Piano kick-starts run-up to final section in a variant of the main theme

00:00:41

 

21. Orchestra sets off on jaunty march, later joined by the piano

00:00:25

 

22. Piano propels orchestra into final section

00:00:46

 

23. Summation and cue to the movement as a whole

00:00:22

 

24. Finale (Complete)

00:09:08