Symphony No. 4 (Schubert)

The Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D. 417, commonly called the Tragic (German: Tragische), was composed by Franz Schubert in 1816. It was completed one year after the Third Symphony, when Schubert was 19 years old. However, the work was premiered only on November 19, 1849, in Leipzig, more than two decades after Schubert's death.

Bestowed by the composer himself, the title Tragic refers to the agitated episodes found in the work, which, besides the later Unfinished Symphony, is the only symphony by Schubert in a minor key.

The symphony is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B-flat, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in A, C and E-flat, 2 trumpets in C and E-flat, timpani and strings.

The symphony has four movements; a performance lasts around 30 minutes.

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