How does this thing work? For some of us, the inner workings of a symphony are as inscrutable as the engine of an automobile is to others. Bill McGlaughlin lifts the “hood” on a handful of symphonies to explore the mechanics of large-scale compositions. Join us as we take a closer look at works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Sibelius.
Under the Hood, Part I
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Playlist
Episode 1
Haydn, Joseph: Symphony No. 101,
The Clock, II (excerpt)
New York Phil/Bernstein
Symphony No. 101 «The Clock» / Symphony No. 104 «London»
Sony 475557
0:59
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 39, I
Berlin Phil/Böhm
Symphonien Nos. 35 – 41
DG 447416
9:00
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 40, I
CSO/Levine
Symphonies Nos. 40 And 41 (“Jupiter”)
RCA 61397
7:13
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 40, I
CSO/Levine
Symphonies Nos. 40 And 41 (“Jupiter”)
RCA 61397
:16
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 40, I
CSO/Levine
Symphonies Nos. 40 And 41 (“Jupiter”)
RCA 61397
:13
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 41
Berlin Phil/Böhm
Symphonien Nos. 35 – 41
DG 447416
:26
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 41
Berlin Phil/Böhm
Symphonien Nos. 35 – 41
DG 447416
7:34
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 41
Berlin Phil/Böhm
Symphonien Nos. 35 – 41
DG 447416
:33
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 41
Berlin Phil/Böhm
Symphonien Nos. 35 – 41
DG 447416
12:56
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 41
Berlin Phil/Böhm
Symphonien Nos. 35 – 41
DG 447416
6:23
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 41
Berlin Phil/Böhm
Symphonien Nos. 35 – 41
DG 447416
1:01
Mozart, Wolfgang: Symphony No. 40 II. Excerpt
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
RCA 61397
1:22
Episode 2
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 5
Vienna Phil/Solti
Symphony No. 9 / Symphony No. 5
Lon 430505
:49
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 2
Berlin Phil/Karajan
Symphonien 1 & 2
DG 415505
2:02
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 2
Berlin Phil/Karajan
Symphonien 1 & 2
DG 415505
3:00
Haydn, Joseph: Symphony No. 4
Philharmonia Orchestra/Klemperer
Symphony No. 4 In G Major
EMI 74089
:25
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 1
Philharmonia Orchestra/Sanderling
Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 1 And 2
EMI 69382
2:48
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 5
Vienna Phil/Solti
Symphony No. 9 / Symphony No. 5
Lon 430505
7:24
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 5
Vienna Phil/Solti
Symphony No. 9 / Symphony No. 5
Lon 430505
9:40
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 2
Berlin Phil/Karajan
Symphonien 1 & 2
DG 415505
:13
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 2 . III
Philharmonia Orchestra/Klemperer
Symphony No. 4 In G Major
EMI 74089
0:15
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 5 excerpt
Philharmonia Orchestra/Klemperer
Symphony No. 4 In G Major
EMI 74089
0:13
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 5
Vienna Phil/Solti
Symphony No. 9 / Symphony No. 5
Lon 430505
16:10
Episode 3
Brahms, Johannes: Symphony No. 2
Vienna Phil/ Monteaux
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op.73
Lon 430214
:41
Brahms, Johannes: Symphony No. 2
Vienna Phil/ Monteaux
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op.73
Lon 430214
20:24
Brahms, Johannes: Symphony No. 2
Vienna Phil/ Monteaux
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op.73
Lon 430214
9:15
Brahms, Johannes: Symphony No. 2
Vienna Phil/ Monteaux
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op.73
Lon 430214
14:01
Brahms, Johannes: Piano Trio No. 1
The Rembrandt Trio
BRAHMS, J.: Piano Trio No. 1 / DVORAK, A.: Piano Trio No. 4, “Dumky” (The Rembrandt Trio)
Dor 90160
3:42
Episode 4
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor (“Pathetique”)
CBS 37768
1:52
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor (“Pathetique”)
CBS 37768
:32
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor (“Pathetique”)
CBS 37768
:22
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor (“Pathetique”)
CBS 37768
:40
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor (“Pathetique”)
CBS 37768
18:02
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor (“Pathetique”)
CBS 37768
17:34
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor (“Pathetique”)
CBS 37768
10:55
Episode 5
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2
LSO/Davis
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 6
RCA 68218
:52
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2
LSO/Davis
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 6
RCA 68218
10:13
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2
LSO/Davis
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 6
RCA 68218
1:06
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2
LSO/Davis
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 6
RCA 68218
15:25
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2
LSO/Davis
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 6
RCA 68218
20:49