Relayed from the National Museum of Wales
National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Warwick Braithwaite

Schubert wrote his Fourth Symphony in April, 1816, apparently for the Amateur Orchestral Society of Vienna. It is comparatively rarely to be heard. The Symphony starts with an Introduction (Very Slow). This is in two halves, each of which begins with a loud chord held by the Full Orchestra. It ends very softly with a chord sustained by Oboes and Horns, and leads into the First Movement proper (quick and lively). The Second Movement is the Slow one, which falls into several sections. The First Section is a song-like melody. The Second is much more agitated. A feature of it lies in rapid repeated notes. These two sections then alternate for some time. The Third Movement is the usual Minuet and Trio, and the Last Movement is a full-length treatment of very varied material. Its foundation is the lengthy first main tune, which is made up of a little phrase on First Violins, repeated with Woodwind added, and (after an outburst of Full Orchestra) the second tune, a discussion mainly between First Violins and Clarinet.