Symphony No. 3 in F, Op. 90
Johannes Brahms
Work background
Researched classical background
Brahms's Third Symphony begins with a compact rising figure whose notes and harmonic tensions help bind the work together. Its four movements include a restrained slow movement and a lyrical third movement in place of a forceful scherzo. Each movement ends quietly, and the finale returns to earlier material as its energy subsides. This creates an unusually inward close for a nineteenth-century symphony.
A listening guide
Listen for the opening figure's influence and compare the quiet endings of all four movements.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Orchestra
Composition: 1883
Composed during the summer in Wiesbaden; the first performance followed that year.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Symphony No. 3 - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Symphony No. 3 - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.