Sir Henry J. Wood and his Symphony Orchestra
Stiles-Allen (Soprano); Daisy Kennedy (Violin)
Relayed from the Queen's Hall, London.

"Academic Festival Overture"...Brahms
It was a happy idea of Brahms, when the University of Breslau made him a Doctor of Philosophy, to write, as a kind of graduation exercise, a rollicking Overture built on the tunes of songs popular with the University students. One at least of the four he uses, the tune Gaudeamus igitur, is known far and wide.
We hear first two tunes of Brahms' own invention, and then the students' songs appear.

"Concerto in D"...Brahms
One of Brahms' most intimate friends was the great violinist, Joachim.
This Violin Concerto - the only one Brahms ever wrote - was dedicated to him, and Joachim, besides taking a great interest in its composition, and advising about some points of fiddle writing, himself wrote the cadenzas for it.
There are three Movements: a fully-developed Quick one, a serene Slow one, and an energetic Finale, in which we find gay Hungarian colour.

"Symphony No. 1, in C minor"...Brahms
When Brahms wrote this First Symphony he was already well over forty. The other three great Symphonies which stand to his credit followed in quick succession.
The Symphony in C Minor follows the usual "classical" forms, and is in four Movements. The First is very weighty and unusually serious even for Brahms. The vein of seriousness affects also the Second Movement, a gently-flowing piece, partly song-like, partly rhapsodic. Then comes a more light-spirited Movement, of a more seizable rhythm, but one that is far from introducing the spirit of gaiety that we often find in one of the centre-pieces of a Symphony.
The Last Movement, like the First, begins with a slow Introduction. Then after a change from the prevailing minor to a major key, and a short pause, the urgent Finale starts on its long, exulting course.