Relayed from THE QUEEN'S HALL, LONDON
(Sole Lessees, Messrs. Chappell and Co., Ltd.)
Brahms
ADOLF BUSCH
THE B.B.C. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(Principal First Violin, CHARLES WOODHOUSE)
Conducted by Sir HENRY WOOD
ORCHESTRA
Academic Festival Overture
BRAHMS in 1880 was made Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Breslau. It was necessary that he should submit a thesis in the form of a composition. As Sir Henry Hadow has said : ' A ceremonial of so solemn and academic a character, naturally demanded an unusual display of learning. Symphonies were too trivial, oratorios were too slight, even an eight-part a capella chorus in octuple counterpoint was hardly adequate to the dignity of the occasion. Something must be done to mark the doctorate with all the awe and reverence due to the Philosophic Chair. So Brahms selected a handful of the more convivial student-songs and worked them into a concert overture which remains one of the most amusing pieces of pure comedy in the whole range of music.' The songs Brahms used in this overture are three known as ' The Father of his Country,' the ' Freshman's Song,' and ' Gaudeamus igitur.'
ADOLF BuscH and Orchestra
Violin Concerto in D
1. Allegro non troppo ; 2. Adagio ; 3. Allegro giocoso
ORCHESTRA
Symphony No. 4, in E Minor
1. Allegro non troppo ; 2. Andante moderato; 3. Allegro giocoso ; 4. Allegro energico