Serenades (Brahms)

The two Serenades, Opp. 11 and 16, represented two of the earliest efforts by Johannes Brahms to write orchestral music. They both date from the 1850s when the composer was residing in Detmold.

Serenade No. 1 in D, Op. 11

The first serenade was completed in 1857 when Brahms was also working on his First Piano Concerto. Originally scored for wind and string octet and then expanded into a longer work for chamber nonet ([1]), it was later adapted for orchestra.

It consists of six movements and lasts slightly less than forty minutes.

• Allegro molto (D major)
• Scherzo. Allegro non troppo (D minor) – Trio. Poco più moto (B flat major)
• Adagio non troppo (B flat major)
• Menuetto I (G major) – Menuetto II (G minor)
• Scherzo. Allegro (D major) – Trio
• Rondo. Allegro (D major)

Serenade No. 2 in A, Op. 16

• Allegro moderato (A major)
• Scherzo. Vivace (C major) – Trio (F major)
• Adagio non troppo (A minor)
• Quasi menuetto (D major) – Trio (F sharp minor)
• Rondo. Allegro (A major)