Classics Explained: Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 2

An exploration of Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 narrated by Jeremy Siepman

Jeremy Siepmann (reader)

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About

Label: Naxos
Series:
- Educational
- Classics Explained
Catalogue number: 8558030-31
Length: 1 hour 44 minutes

Contents and tracklist

Brahms: An Introduction to … BRAHMS

Work length1:44:44

Jeremy Siepmann (reader)

Introduction; opening horn call and piano's answer

Track length1:50

Rising three-note scalewise pattern

Track length0:25

Quicker, descending six-note 'answer'

Track length0:18

Second, answering phrase

Track length0:32

First Main Theme completed by orchestra

Track length0:50

Peace shattered as piano bursts back in like a tiger

Track length1:24

Variant of opening horn call in bass

Track length0:19

Orchestra returns; beginning of Exposition proper

Track length2:25

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

Track length0:41

Call to arms by strings; marshalling of orchestral forces

Track length1:03

Piano re-enters fry with massive expansion of opening figure

Track length0:48

Piano 'explores' two main facets of opening theme

Track length0:45

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

Track length1:07

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

Track length0:41

Piano and orchestra in friendly dialogue before piano falls away

Track length1:28

'Winged' harmonic shadow of pure pianistic tone-colour

Track length0:45

New 'transitional' theme from orchestra developed by piano

Track length1:51

After indecision and discussion, the mood suddenly turns playful

Track length0:26

Reminder of Second Main Theme in its original form

Track length0:43

Ttransfomation of Second Main Theme by piano

Track length0:40

Piano hijacks orchestra's 'call to arms'

Track length0:43

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

Track length1:08

Dramatic eruption of orchestra leads to the Development section

Track length1:13

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

Track length0:30

Transformed 'tiger' theme amicably shared by piano and orchestra

Track length0:44

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

Track length0:41

Brief, downward-driving section prepares for the Recapitulation

Track length0:54

On the threshold of the Recapitulation

Track length0:54

Recapitulation: The Magical Return

Track length1:06

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

Track length1:17

And unexpected and portentus change of mood, suggesting tragedy

Track length1:01

Summation

Track length0:30

First Movement (Complete)

Track length17:16

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

Track length0:13

Downward-driving answer from lower strings

Track length0:27

Theme vs Melody

Track length0:58

Eerie, unharmonised, 'white' sound of Second Theme

Track length0:45

Second Theme taken up and developed by piano

Track length1:25

Expectation and surprise; harmonic fluidity and intensifying drama

Track length1:40

Return (and transformation) of Theme Two

Track length0:41

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

Track length1:00

Sequence of fragmentary episodes begins with unexpected fanfare

Track length0:58

Variant of Theme Three in piano

Track length0:36

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

Track length0:21

Rhapsodic variant of fanfare, this time for piano alone

Track length0:24

Recapitulation of opening, with piano and orchestra reversing roles

Track length1:07

Theme Two transformed by new instrumentation

Track length0:36

Cue and Second Movement (Complete)

Track length9:23

Introduction, cue and First Main Theme

Track length1:53

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

Track length1:20

Complex variant of Theme One with very different speed and rhythm

Track length0:42

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

Track length1:10

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

Track length1:28

Oboe Theme returns, now delicately embroidered by the piano

Track length0:46

Cue and Third Movement (Complete)

Track length11:50

Finale: Introduction, cue and Main Theme

Track length0:57

Violins take up tune, with winds and piano accompanying

Track length0:24

Piano introduces Part 2 of the main theme

Track length0:37

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

Track length0:54

First Episode, Part 1

Track length0:47

First Episode, Part 2

Track length0:23

Piano hands theme over to clarinets and bassoons

Track length0:15

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

Track length0:40

Strings and flutes take theme, with bubbling commentary from piano

Track length0:28

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

Track length0:38

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

Track length0:28

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

Track length0:10

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

Track length0:41

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

Track length0:25

Piano propels orchestra into final section

Track length0:46

Summation and cue to the movement as a whole

Track length0:22

Finale (Complete)

Track length9:08

Classics Explained: Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 2

Classics Explained: Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 2

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