Symphony No. 4 (Berwald)


Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major is an orchestral work by Swedish composer Franz Berwald written in 1845. Berwald considered naming the symphony "Sinfonie naïve" but the autograph score is simply inscribed "No. 4 in E flat". Berwald attempted to interest French composer/conductor Daniel Auber in premiering the symphony but it had to wait until April 9, 1878 when it was finally given a first performance under Berwald champion Ludvig Norman.
The symphony is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings. It consists of four movements:
  1. Allegro risoluto
  2. Adagio -
  3. Scherzo. Allegro molto
  4. Finale. Allegro vivace
A typical performance lasts 25–30 minutes.
The slow movement is based on an unpublished keyboard work of 1844, En landtlig bröllopfest.

Discography