Symphony No. 2 in C minor by Johannes Brahms
When was it written?
- Johannes Brahms composed his Second Symphony in 1877. It was performed for the first time in December of that year.
About the music
- In the summer of 1877, Brahms spent a few months in the small village of Portschach, Austria, writing music and enjoying the beauty of nature. Brahms sent the first movement of the piece to his dear friend Clara Schumann. She adored the new work, and wrote back saying that this symphony would be even more successful than his First!
- Brahms may have been inspired by the natural beauty around him in Austria. His Second Symphony sounds like a story out of a picture book–as you listen, you can almost imagine the beautiful Austrian countryside. We call music like this “pastoral” because of the way it evokes simple, country life. Listen for the duet in the Horns that starts the first movement and picture yourself in that small village in Austria.
- You might hear a familiar lullaby tune in the first movement–did you catch it?
- The final movement begins quiet and somber, building to a loud cheer as the music progresses towards the end. The finale was so memorable during the first performance that the audience wanted an encore!
Who was Brahms?
- Brahms played the piano, cello, and violin at an early age, later becoming a virtuosic pianist who premiered many of his own works.
- He wrote all types of music from Symphonies, chamber music, and even over 200 songs.
- He sometimes is categorized as one of the three B’s of composers, along with Bach and Beethoven.
Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 33 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
About the music
- Willhelm Fitzenhagen was a Russian cellist and a close friend of Tchaikovsky. In 1877, Fitzhagen asked Tchaikovsky to write his Variations on a Rococo Theme to show off his cello skills and ability to establish himself as one of the best cello players of his time.
- On November 30th, 1877, Fitzenhagen played the piece for the first time. A virtuoso cellist, Fitzhagen was such a talented musical mind that he had re-written some of the Rococo Variations. Tchaikovsky was furious! Twelve years later, Tchaikovsky published the piece his way–with the composer’s original markings.
- The piece begins with a short theme played by the cello. Eight variations follow that transform that original melody in different, interesting ways.
- The opening melody is in the form of a gavotte, a type of dance that can be traced back to 17th-century France. In a gavotte, dancers make stately strides in a moderately slow tempo.
Who was Tchaikovsky?
- Over the course of his career, Tchaikovsky met many great musicians who paid Tchaikovsky money to write pieces for them. This process is called commissioning.
- As a young man, Tchaikovsky loved to read. Classic tales like Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet were his favorites! His love of literature inspired several of his pieces for orchestra.
- He started composing at the age of 4. He has written hundreds of works, including 7 symphonies, over 100 songs, and 11 operas.
Personas Invisibles by Alejandro Basulto
When was this piece premiered?
- The piece premiered on June 11, 2020 during the Resilient Sounds festival by members of the Houston Symphony. This festival celebrated the determination and hope of Houston refugee communities.
What’s the piece about?
- Personas Invisibles, Spanish for “Invisible People”, is a type of symphonic work called a tone poem. A tone poem is a work that is inspired by a story or narrative.
- Personas Invisibles is a work that is inspired by the story of a transgender Salvadorian woman living in the United States as a refugee. A refugee is someone who has been forced out of their country to escape persecution or war.
- This story is broken down into 5 main sections:
- In the opening, our main character is trying to express herself and her identity. We hear the violent response and backlash she receives as she tries to live as her authentic self.
- The second theme represents the self-discovery of the woman’s identity with a traditional Mexican love song known as a ranchera.
- Harsh, percussive blasts in the brass and strings mimic the experiences of people who are bullied for being different.
- The ranchera returns as a cry of hope but keeps getting interrupted by the dark harmonies signaling her oppression.
- Percussion is heavily used to represent the threats she encountered before escaping as a refugee. In the end, a bittersweet melody depicts her as she dreams about the day she will see her loved ones again.
About the composer:
- Alejandro Basulto is a Mexican composer and conductor who has won many competitions and awards for his music.
- His music is widely played in orchestras across Mexico and the United States.
