Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Johannes Brahms

Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 by Johannes Brahms

Brahms completed his first symphony in 1876 with the premiere performance being given in November the same year in Karlsruhe, in the Grand duchy of Baden. According to Brahms, he began composing the symphony in 1855, but would take a further 21 years to complete.

The work was well received at the premiere, with some critics commenting that it could be considered Beethoven’s 10th symphony due to similarities in the tone and the use of some musical idioms from the 9th symphony.

The work is comprised of four movements: I. Un poco sostenuto 00:00 — Allegro – Meno allegro II. Andante sostenuto 13:50 III. Un poco allegretto e grazioso 22:48 IV. Adagio 27:37 — Più andante — Allegro non troppo, ma con brio – Più allegro