Symphony No. 1 — finale theme

J. BrahmsOp. 68

Key

C

Time

C

Tempo

♩=80

AO focus

AO3

Form

C minor → C major. The finale's main theme echoes the Ode to Joy ('any donkey can see that' — Brahms).

Teaching points

• Beethoven 9 echo (acknowledged)
• C minor → C major architecture
• AO3: Brahms in Beethoven's shadow