Brahms: Academic Festival Overture

Brahms composed the lively Academic Festival Overture in the summer of 1880 in thanks for the honorary Doctorate of Philosophy conferred upon him the previous year by Breslau University.

Filled with an irrepressible sense of fun, this overture deploys great skill in the cause of mischief and mystification. A defiant ‘un-academic’ sonata structure masquerading as a free fantasia and musical quotations of various popular and folk songs of the time make for excellent musical practical jokery. Brahms makes a merry noise with the largest orchestra he ever used, complete with cymbals, triangle and bass drum.