LINCOLN CENTER

David Geffen Hall

New York Philharmonic

Today, we sat behind the orchestra.

Interesting.

The horn solo in the 4th movement...

The horn solo comes near the end of the 4th movement after over 50 minutes of "Brahms” music.

To some, Brahms get a bit twisted.

However, when this happens, it is magic.

Until then the music has been moving back and forth, swirling around itself, and sometimes against itself as Brahms is apt to do.

Then after a tympani solo to stop and silence everything, the silence is broken by the golden sound of the solo horn flying over the orchestra and filling the hall.

After over 50 minutes of musical emotion, tension, and struggle, this simple, powerful, beautiful horn call changes everything.

It is a transcendental moment.

The horn sings that things are now good and new.

The trombones then sing a chorale that says all will be well.