Symphony No. 1 (Brian)
| Symphony No. 1 | |
|---|---|
| The Gothic | |
| by Havergal Brian | |
Havergal Brian c. 1900 | |
| Key | D minor (nominally) |
| Text | Te Deum |
| Composed | 1919–1927 |
| Dedication | Richard Strauss |
| Published | 1932 |
| Publisher | Cranz & Co. |
| Duration | 105 minutes |
| Movements | 6 |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 24 June 1961 |
| Location | Central Hall Westminster, London |
| Conductor | Bryan Fairfax |
| Performers | Multiple Ensembles (see performances) |
The Symphony No. 1 in D minor (The Gothic) is a symphony composed by Havergal Brian between 1919 and 1927. At around 110 minutes it is one of the longest symphonies ever composed. Others include Mahler's Symphony No. 3 at 90 to 105 minutes (the only symphony of this length to be regularly performed and recorded), Derek Bourgeois's Symphony No 42: Life, the Universe, and Everything at 155 minutes, Sorabji's Organ Symphony No. 2 at nine hours, and Dimitrie Cuclin's unperformed Symphony No. 12 at about six hours. Along with choral symphonies such as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony or Mahler's Eighth Symphony, it is one of a few works attempting to use the musically gigantic to address the spiritual concerns of humanity. Beginning in D minor and closing in E major, the work is an example of progressive tonality.