

Brahms was a well established and respected composer by the time his first symphony came to fruition, and, as indicated by its opus number 68, had already produced a substantial body of work, which included the first Piano Concerto and the German Requiem. The first symphony was first performed in 1876, but Brahms had begun to write a symphony as early as 1854. He took this work as far as a setting for two pianos, but did not orchestrate it and it was never published. Three of the four movements did however appear in other works, including those mentioned above. The long gestation period was due to Brahms’ awareness of his place in the succession of symphonists from Haydn onwards. He was particularly intimidated by the shadow cast by Beethoven, even after the huge success of the German Requiem and St. Anthony Variations. The premiere of the first symphony, in Karlsruhe, was a triumph; Hans von Bulow did not hesitate to proclaim it "the Tenth", a tribute Brahms received with mixed feelings. Each of Brahms’ four symphonies has a distinct character. The first is the most overtly dramatic, and, particularly in the first movement, characterised by restlessness, urgency and a certain element of defiance. This is perhaps not surprising for a work born of such a long struggle with self doubt.
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