Brahms First Symphony Analysis

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There is an affinity between the genesis of Brahms’ Second Symphony and the completion of his First Symphony. After Robert Schumann’s advice to Brahms to compose symphonic works in 1855 and the first sketches of his First Symphony, the journey of this work includes almost twenty years to complete his challenge. In June 1862 Brahms had finished the first movement of his First Symphony, and Clara sent a letter to Brahms’ closest friend, Joseph Joachim (1831-1907) about the first movement in July 1st:
Johannes sent me a little time ago–only fancy, how surprised I was the first movement of a Symphony with this bold opening: [Clara includes a musical example of mm. 38–42, the beginning of the Allegro]. That is rather tough, certainly, but I soon …show more content…
Besides, the delay of this work made people expect to listen his symphony, but he aimed to compose a great symphony like Beethoven’s symphonies. For this reason, Brahms could not finish this work in a hurry. In 1870, Max Bruch (1838-1920) comments in a letter to Brahms: “You should make up your mind to finish the sketches for the symphony.” In the same year, Brahms wrote a letter to Hermann Levi (1839-1900): “I shall never finish a symphony. You don’t know what it feels like to be dogged by Beethoven.” Moreover, Philipp Spitta (1841-1894) who was a biographer of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) sent a letter to Brahms after the great success of Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn Op.56a, called St. Anthony Variations, and remarked: “World of music is now eagerly awaiting a symphony.” Although people waited to listen Brahms’ First
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