Brahms: Serenade No.2 in A Op.16 Mvt.IV Menuetto - symphonic wind dectet

The two Serenades, Op. 11 and 16, represent early efforts by Johannes Brahms to write orchestral music. They both date from after the 1856 death of Robert Schumann when Brahms was residing in Detmold and had access to an orchestra.

Brahms had a goal of reaching Ludwig van Beethoven's level in writing symphonies, and worked long and hard on his first symphony, completing it only in 1876 when he was 43 years old. As preliminary steps in composing for orchestra, he chose early on to write some lighter orchestral pieces, these Serenades.

The second serenade was first sent to Clara Schumann, who was delighted by it. It was written in 1859 and dedicated to her.

The first public performance, reportedly for full orchestra (version lost?), was in Hamburg on 10 February 1860.

Brahms himself reworked the piece for piano 4 hands in 1875.

The same year he revisited the orchestral version, this time for a small chamber orchestra.

The new scoring was for :

piccolo,

2 flutes,

2 oboes,

2 clarinets (in A for movements I, IV, V; in C for movement II; and in B flat for movement III),

2 bassoons, 

2 horns, 

violas, cellos, and double basses.

(omitting violins, brass, and percussion)

The five movements take approximately thirty minutes to perform.

Allegro moderato (A major)

Scherzo. Vivace (C major) – Trio (F major) 

Adagio non troppo (A minor, ends in A major with a Picardy third)

Quasi menuetto (D major) – Trio (F♯ minor) (This arrangement)

Rondo. Allegro (A major)

Arranged wind dectet/decet/double wind quintet and bass.

Horns in F (new parts composed by me)

Clarinet parts are for A clarinets.( Alternate parts provided for Bb clts)