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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

Tragic Overture (13:50)

Problems playing this file? See media help.

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

Allegro ma non troppo
Molto più moderato
Tempo primo ma tranquillo

Analysis

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

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

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

External links

Tragic Overture, Op. 81 (Brahms): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Orrin, Howard. Program Notes: Tragic Overture, Op. 81 (archived 2016)
Hansen, Kelly Dean (October 14, 2008). "Listening Guide: Tragic Overture (D minor), Op. 81". Brahms Listening Guides. – (Using a recording by Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic)

This article about a classical composition is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[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

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{about|the overture by Brahms|the overture by Dvořák|Tragic Overture (Dvořák)}}
+{{italic title}}
-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.
+{{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 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. {{Citation needed|date=May 2013}}
+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
 | 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]].
+{{ordered list|list_style_type=lower-roman
-*''Allegro ma non troppo''
-*''Molto più moderato''
+|''Allegro ma non troppo''
+|''Molto più moderato''
-*''Tempo primo ma tranquillo''.
+|''Tempo primo ma tranquillo''
+}}
+[[File:Orchesterwerke Romantik Themen.pdf|450px|page=115]]
+== Analysis ==
-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>
+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>
-==Instrumentation==
+== Instrumentation ==
-The work is scored for [[piccolo]], two [[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 instrument|strings]].
+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]].
-==References==
-{{reflist}}
+== References ==
+{{Reflist}}
+== Further reading==
+* {{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}}
 == 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]]

v t e Johannes Brahms
List of compositions
Orchestral works	Academic Festival Overture Serenades Symphony No. 1 in C minor Symphony No. 2 in D major Symphony No. 3 in F major Symphony No. 4 in E minor Tragic Overture Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Concertante	Double Concerto Piano Concerto No. 1 Piano Concerto No. 2 Violin Concerto
Vocal works with orchestra	A German Requiem Alto Rhapsody Gesang der Parzen Nänie Rinaldo Schicksalslied Triumphlied
Chamber music	Cello Sonata No. 1 Cello Sonata No. 2 Clarinet Quintet Clarinet Sonatas Clarinet Trio Horn Trio Piano Quartet No. 1 Piano Quartet No. 2 Piano Quartet No. 3 Piano Quintet Piano Trio No. 1 Piano Trio No. 2 Piano Trio No. 3 String Quartet No. 3 String Quintet No. 1 String Quintet No. 2 String Sextet No. 1 String Sextet No. 2 Two String Quartets, Op. 51 Violin Sonata No. 1 Violin Sonata No. 2 Violin Sonata No. 3
Piano works	Ballades, Op. 10 Fantasies, Op. 116 Four Pieces for Piano, Op. 119 Hungarian Dances Piano Sonata No. 1 Piano Sonata No. 2 Piano Sonata No. 3 Rhapsodies, Op. 79 Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 Sixteen Waltzes, Op. 39 Three Intermezzi for piano, Op. 117 Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel Variations on a Theme of Paganini
Other compositions	Eleven Chorale Preludes Fest- und Gedenksprüche Fünf Gesänge, Op. 104 Fünf Lieder, Op. 105 Geistliches Lied Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52 Neue Liebeslieder Two Motets, Op. 74 Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano, Op. 91 Vier ernste Gesänge "Wiegenlied (Lullaby)", Op. 49, no. 4 Zigeunerlieder
Collaborations	F-A-E Sonata
Named for Brahms	1818 Brahms Brahms (crater) Brahms Inlet
Related articles	Brahms House (Baden-Baden) Brahms Museum (Hamburg) Brahms Museum, Mürzzuschlag Brahms guitar Brahms-Institut Brahms-Preis German Romanticism International Johannes Brahms Competition Musical cryptogram Three Bs Op. 120, No. 1 (Berio)
Category Audio

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany France BnF data Israel Catalonia
Other	MusicBrainz work