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{{about|the overture by Brahms|the overture by Dvořák|Tragic Overture (Dvořák)}}
{{about|the overture by Brahms|the overture by Dvořák|Tragic Overture (Dvořák)}}
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{{Listen
{{one source|date=March 2016}}
The '''''Tragic Overture''''' ({{langx|de|Tragische Ouvertüre|link=no}}), [[opus number|Op.]]&nbsp;81, is a [[Overture#Concert overture|concert overture]] for [[orchestra]] written by [[Johannes Brahms]] during the summer of 1880. It premiered, under [[Hans Richter (conductor)|Hans Richter]], on 26 December 1880 in Vienna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcQAAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA361|title=Brahms and His World: A Biographical Dictionary|first=Peter|last=Clive|date=October 2, 2006|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9781461722809|via=Google Books}}</ref> Most performances last between twelve and fifteen minutes.

Brahms chose the title "[[tragedy|tragic]]" to emphasize the turbulent, tormented character of the piece, in essence a free-standing symphonic movement, in contrast to the mirthful ebullience of a companion piece he wrote the same year, the ''[[Academic Festival Overture]]''. Despite its name, the ''Tragic Overture'' does not follow any specific dramatic [[program music|program]]. Brahms summed up the effective difference in character between the two overtures when he declared "one is laughing, the other crying."<ref>{{cite book |last=Neunzig |first=Hans A. |title=Brahms |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9To5t5rZn0cC&dq=Brahms+%22One+is+laughing,+the+other+crying%22&pg=PA160 |translator-last1=Mitchell |translator-first1=Mike |year= 1997 |publisher=Haus Publishing |location=London |isbn=1-904341-17-9 |page=160}}</ref>

== Structure ==

{{Listen|type=music
| filename = Brahms, Tragic Overture.ogg
| filename = Brahms, Tragic Overture.ogg
| title = ''Tragic Overture'' (13:50)
| title = ''Tragic Overture'' (13:50)
| description = Courtesy of [[Musopen]]
| description =
}}
}}
The ''Tragic Overture'' comprises three main sections, all in the [[key (music)|key]] of [[D minor]].
The '''''Tragic Overture''''' (German: ''Tragische Ouvertüre''), [[opus number|Op.]] 81, is a [[Overture#Concert overture|concert overture]] for [[orchestra]] written by [[Johannes Brahms]] during the summer of 1880. It premiered on 26 December 1880 in [[Vienna]]. Most performances last between twelve and fifteen minutes.
{{ordered list|list_style_type=lower-roman
|''Allegro ma non troppo''
|''Molto più moderato''
|''Tempo primo ma tranquillo''
}}
[[File:Orchesterwerke Romantik Themen.pdf|450px|page=115]]


== Analysis ==
Brahms chose the title "[[tragedy|Tragic]]" to emphasize the turbulent, tormented character of the piece, in essence a free-standing symphonic movement, in contrast to the mirthful ebullience of a companion piece he wrote the same year, the ''[[Academic Festival Overture]]''. Despite its name, the ''Tragic Overture'' does not follow any specific dramatic [[program music|program]]. Brahms was not very interested in musical storytelling and was more concerned with conveying and eliciting emotional impressions. He summed up the effective difference between the two overtures when he declared "one laughs while the other cries." Brahms quotes some material from the last movement of the [[Symphony No. 2 (Brahms)|Second Symphony]] in this overture.


Theorists have disagreed in analyzing the form of the piece: [[Timothy L. Jackson|Jackson]] finds [[James Webster (musicologist)|Webster]]'s multifarious description{{citation needed|date=January 2021|reason=Where is Webster's description?}} rather obscurist and prefers to label the work's form as a "reversed [[sonata form|sonata design]]" in which the second group is [[recapitulation (music)|recapitulated]] before the first, with [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s ''[[Coriolan Overture]]'' as a possible formal model.<ref>[[Timothy L. Jackson]], "Bruckner and tragic reversed sonata form", ''Bruckner Studies'' 1997, Cambridge University Press, pp. 172–178</ref>
The ''Tragic Overture'' comprises three main sections, all in the [[key (music)|key]] of [[D minor]].
*''Allegro ma non troppo''
*''Molto più moderato''
*''Tempo primo ma tranquillo''.


== Instrumentation ==
Theorists have disagreed in analyzing the form of the piece: Jackson finds Webster's multifarious description rather obscurist and prefers to label the work's form as a "reversed sonata design" in which the second group is recapitulated before the first, with [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s ''[[Coriolan Overture]]'' as a possible formal model.<ref>Timothy L. Jackson, "Bruckner and tragic reversed sonata form" ''Bruckner Studies'' 1997, Cambridge University Press, pp. 172 - 178</ref>


The work is scored for [[piccolo]], two [[Western concert flute|flute]]s, two [[oboe]]s, two [[clarinet]]s, two [[bassoon]]s, four [[French horn|horn]]s, two [[trumpet]]s, three [[trombone]]s, [[tuba]], [[timpani]], and [[string section|strings]].
==Instrumentation==


== References ==
The work is scored for [[piccolo]], two [[flute]]s, two [[oboe]]s, two [[clarinet]]s, two [[bassoon]]s, four [[horn (instrument)|horn]]s, two [[trumpet]]s, three [[trombone]]s, [[tuba]], [[timpani]], and [[string instrument|strings]].
{{Reflist}}


== Further reading==
==References==
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3c_d6JRauvYC|editor-last=Pascall|editor-first=Robert|title=Brahms: Biographical, Documentary and Analytical Studies|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0-521-24522-7|ref=none}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMSLP2|id=Tragic_Overture_%28Brahms%2C_Johannes%29|cname=Tragic Overture}}
* {{IMSLP|work=Tragic Overture, Op.81 (Brahms, Johannes)|cname=''Tragic Overture'', Op. 81 (Brahms)}}
* [http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/piece-detail.cfm?id=3161 Program notes from the Los Angeles Philharmonic]
* Orrin, Howard. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160306224513/http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/tragic-overture-johannes-brahms-0 Program Notes: ''Tragic Overture'', Op. 81] (archived 2016)
* [http://www.kellydeanhansen.com/opus81.html Detailed Listening Guide] using the recording by Claudio Abbado
* {{cite web|url=http://www.kellydeanhansen.com/opus81.html|last=Hansen|first=Kelly Dean|title=Listening Guide: ''Tragic Overture'' (D minor), Op. 81|publisher=Brahms Listening Guides|date=October 14, 2008|ref=none}} – (Using a recording by [[Claudio Abbado]] and the [[Berlin Philharmonic]])

{{Johannes Brahms}}
{{Portal bar|Classical music}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Compositions by Johannes Brahms]]
[[Category:Orchestral compositions by Johannes Brahms]]
[[Category:Overtures]]
[[Category:Compositions in D minor]]
[[Category:Concert overtures]]
[[Category:1880 compositions]]
[[Category:1880 compositions]]



Latest revision as of 12:48, 27 October 2024

The Tragic Overture (German: Tragische Ouvertüre), Op. 81, is a concert overture for orchestra written by Johannes Brahms during the summer of 1880. It premiered, under Hans Richter, on 26 December 1880 in Vienna.[1] Most performances last between twelve and fifteen minutes.

Brahms chose the title "tragic" to emphasize the turbulent, tormented character of the piece, in essence a free-standing symphonic movement, in contrast to the mirthful ebullience of a companion piece he wrote the same year, the Academic Festival Overture. Despite its name, the Tragic Overture does not follow any specific dramatic program. Brahms summed up the effective difference in character between the two overtures when he declared "one is laughing, the other crying."[2]

Structure

[edit]

The Tragic Overture comprises three main sections, all in the key of D minor.

  1. Allegro ma non troppo
  2. Molto più moderato
  3. Tempo primo ma tranquillo

Analysis

[edit]

Theorists have disagreed in analyzing the form of the piece: Jackson finds Webster's multifarious description[citation needed] rather obscurist and prefers to label the work's form as a "reversed sonata design" in which the second group is recapitulated before the first, with Beethoven's Coriolan Overture as a possible formal model.[3]

Instrumentation

[edit]

The work is scored for piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, and strings.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Clive, Peter (October 2, 2006). Brahms and His World: A Biographical Dictionary. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9781461722809 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Neunzig, Hans A. (1997). Brahms. Translated by Mitchell, Mike. London: Haus Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 1-904341-17-9.
  3. ^ Timothy L. Jackson, "Bruckner and tragic reversed sonata form", Bruckner Studies 1997, Cambridge University Press, pp. 172–178

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]