Classics Explained: BRAHMS - Piano Concerto No. 2 (Siepmann)

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An Introduction to ... BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 (more info)
Composed by: Johannes Brahms
Jeremy Siepmann, narrator
Produced by: Soames, Nicolas


1.   Introduction; opening horn call and piano's answer - 1:50
2.   Rising three-note scalewise pattern - 0:25
3.   Quicker, descending six-note 'answer' - 0:18
4.   Second, answering phrase - 0:32
5.   First Main Theme completed by orchestra - 0:50
6.   Peace shattered as piano bursts back in like a tiger - 1:24
7.   Variant of opening horn call in bass - 0:19
8.   Orchestra returns; beginning of Exposition proper - 2:25
9.   Big, 'singing' theme in orchestra; piano 'forgotten' - 0:41
10.   Call to arms by strings; marshalling of orchestral forces - 1:03
11.   Piano re-enters fry with massive expansion of opening figure - 0:48
12.   Piano 'explores' two main facets of opening theme - 0:45
13.   Transition. sense of key weakened. Piano and orchestra come together - 1:07
14.   Piano and orchestra 'argue' over speed of thematic three-note rise - 0:41
15.   Piano and orchestra in friendly dialogue before piano falls away - 1:28
16.   'Winged' harmonic shadow of pure pianistic tone-colour - 0:45
17.   New 'transitional' theme from orchestra developed by piano - 1:51
18.   After indecision and discussion, the mood suddenly turns playful - 0:26
19.   Reminder of Second Main Theme in its original form - 0:43
20.   Ttransfomation of Second Main Theme by piano - 0:40
21.   Piano hijacks orchestra's 'call to arms' - 0:43
22.   Piano and orchestra, now allies, explore theme, but with piano leading - 1:08
23.   Dramatic eruption of orchestra leads to the Development section - 1:13
24.   Pianistic 'tiger' replaced by gentle reflective, soft-spoken poet - 0:30
25.   Transformed 'tiger' theme amicably shared by piano and orchestra - 0:44
26.   An apparently new theme - but Battlle Hymn of the Republic? - 0:41
27.   Brief, downward-driving section prepares for the Recapitulation - 0:54
28.   On the threshold of the Recapitulation - 0:54
29.   Recapitulation: The Magical Return - 1:06
30.   From Gate-crashing Tiger to Celestial Tenderness - and a surprise - 1:17
31.   And unexpected and portentus change of mood, suggesting tragedy - 1:01
32.   Summation - 0:30
33.   First Movement (Complete) - 17:16
34.   Second Movement: The upward-driving opening gambit, piano alone - 0:13
35.   Downward-driving answer from lower strings - 0:27
36.   Theme vs Melody - 0:58
37.   Eerie, unharmonised, 'white' sound of Second Theme - 0:45
38.   Second Theme taken up and developed by piano - 1:25
39.   Expectation and surprise; harmonic fluidity and intensifying drama - 1:40
40.   Return (and transformation) of Theme Two - 0:41
41.   Theme One returns in orchestra; Theme Three emerges in major mode - 1:00
42.   Sequence of fragmentary episodes begins with unexpected fanfare - 0:58
43.   Variant of Theme Three in piano - 0:36
44.   Rescored variant of 'fanfare' theme; from grandeur to solemnity - 0:21
45.   Rhapsodic variant of fanfare, this time for piano alone - 0:24
46.   Recapitulation of opening, with piano and orchestra reversing roles - 1:07
47.   Theme Two transformed by new instrumentation - 0:36
48.   Cue and Second Movement (Complete) - 9:23

An Introduction to ... BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 (more info)
Composed by: Johannes Brahms
Jeremy Siepmann, narrator
Produced by: Soames, Nicolas


1.   Introduction, cue and First Main Theme - 1:53
2.   Theme One taken up by strings and solo oboe; piano's entry - 1:20
3.   Complex variant of Theme One with very different speed and rhythm - 0:42
4.   Orchestra and piano in mixed variants of Theme One, now intensified - 1:10
5.   Theme Two, hushed and 'tuneless', with piano, clarinets and strings - 1:28
6.   Oboe Theme returns, now delicately embroidered by the piano - 0:46
7.   Cue and Third Movement (Complete) - 11:50
8.   Finale: Introduction, cue and Main Theme - 0:57
9.   Violins take up tune, with winds and piano accompanying - 0:24
10.   Piano introduces Part 2 of the main theme - 0:37
11.   Part 3 of the theme, led by piano, in 'fiercely' self-confident mood - 0:54
12.   First Episode, Part 1 - 0:47
13.   First Episode, Part 2 - 0:23
14.   Piano hands theme over to clarinets and bassoons - 0:15
15.   First Episode, Part 3, in piano, first; then flutes and oboes - 0:40
16.   Strings and flutes take theme, with bubbling commentary from piano - 0:28
17.   Tipsy dancers (piano and winds) return, tiring; strings take over - 0:38
18.   In the central Episode, the orchestra throws down a dramatic challenge - 0:28
19.   ... to which the piano duly responds with a stormy outburst - 0:10
20.   Piano kick-starts run-up to final section in a variant of the main theme - 0:41
21.   Orchestra sets off on jaunty march, later joined by the piano - 0:25
22.   Piano propels orchestra into final section - 0:46
23.   Summation and cue to the movement as a whole - 0:22
24.   Finale (Complete) - 9:08

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