Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No.3
Context
Johannes Brahms completed his 21 Hungarian Dances by 1879, and they still remain one his most popular collections of music. All of the dances are based on traditional Hungarian folk tunes and range from c.1 minute to 6 minutes in duration. Some of the dances have become much more recognisable than others, but as a set they are a force to be reckoned with. During this 21-part ‘Explore Hungarian Dances’ on Classicalexburns, we will be delving into the ins and outs of this famous collection.
The Music
The third Hungarian Dance is a spritely dance marked Allegretto. Led by the woodwind from the start, this twee dance is accompanied by pizzicato strings. Unlike the previous two dances, the third pieces together small melodies to create one movement of music. The oboe and flutes lead the horns and muted trumpets into taking over the melody before the strings burst through. This triumphant section sees the melody fully-realised, with Brahms using the whole orchestra. As the dynamic begins to lower, a reprise of the opening woodwind theme is heard before the dance comes to a quite close.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy Reading!
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