Brahms – Symphony No. 4 – Mvt. II

In this second movement Brahms uses specific colors of the wind instruments in establishing the tone color of certain sections. The beginning of the movement opens with the horn then the bassoon and oboes enter, adding two different timbres to the horn. Then the flute joins the rest in a higher octave. In measure 4 the clarinets take the melody and are accompanied by the bassoon. This melody Brahms has given a dark color with the use of the clarinets. An interesting addition of the tone color of the flutes is added in measure 8 and the parts are scored at the bottom of the flute range. The part barely be heard but adds ever so slightly to the bassoons and clarinets. At rehearsal A the duet between the clarinets and the bassoons starts in unison octaves. The tone remains of a darker nature but is quickly changed by the entrance of the flutes and oboes in the second measure of A. The register of the flute has changed dramatically and therefore can be easily heard. At measure 36 the winds are used together. The section is scored at forte and the use of all the winds gives it a brighter tone. AT measure 55 the flute, clarinet, and bassoon are in unison octaves a combination of tone colors. Three measures later Brahms scores the flutes with changing of register and the accompaniment follows dynamically so that the various register can be heard, from the brighter high range to the dark low range of the instrument. At rehearsal E the winds call between the strings providing contrasts in timbre. The clarinet 1, oboe 1 and flute 1 have the melody line in unison. The dominating sound is in the clarinet because of the range. Throughout the movement Brahms uses a combination of the horns and bassoons. With the bassoons playing accompaniment or harmonic support throughout. Finally at measure 108 Brahms uses the solo sound of the oboe followed soon after by the solo clarinet, a contrast in colors again from brighter to darker. The movement ends with the winds playing a pianissimo chord.