Brahms: Musical Analysis: Bernstein on Brahms, Symphony No. 4, Op. 98, 1st Movement - V. "Here Is That 2nd Theme"
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Here is that second theme
You see how symphonically this second theme is constructed?
It begins quietly, like brand new material
But as it continues, it employs the
Descending scale we have already heard
Which is then repeated a tone higher
Following which, Brahms, in true symphonic
Style, takes the last fragment of the scale
And develops it in a descending sequence
Making it not just a tune, but a self-developing tune, which is the
Essence of growth in a symphony. At the bottom of this descent, we
Have arrived at a mysterious moment of distant trumpet
Calls ushering in a development of those fanfares we
Heard before in the transition, but which approach
Nearer and nearer and grow to climactic proportions
And so the exposition, having stated, restated, and developed
All the material of the movement, concludes with a
Reference to the very opening theme, which returns us
Temporarily to our home key of E-minor, from which we have
Strayed during our wanderings in the second theme department