Brahms dedicated himself to music that was pure and abstract, which ‘portrayed’ nothing: no stories, no travel epics, no visual impressions. But nonetheless the Thirddoes possess a personal undercurrent. The main thread of all four movements is the little motief F-A-F. With these three notes Brahms, the eternal bachelor,expressed his personal motto ‘Frei aber froh!’ - free but happy! It was a reaction to the musical signature FA-E (‘Frei aber einsam’ – free but lonely) of his goodfriend the violinist Joseph Joachim. And despite all his aversion to the new rage of the symphonic poem, he delighted in the letter from Clara Schumann after sheheard the symphony: ‘The opening movement depicts a delicious dawn ... the second movement an idyll, prayer in a small chapel in the woods, the flow of a brook, therummaging of little beetles...’. - Clemens Romijn [from liner notes]

• 1. Symphony No.3 In F Major Op.90 Allegro Con Brio
• 2. Symphony No.3 In F Major Op.90 Andante
• 3. Symphony No.3 In F Major Op.90 Poco Allegretto
• 4. Symphony No.3 In F Major Op.90 Allegro - Un Poco Sostenuto
• 5. Serenade No.2 In a Major Op.16 Allegro Moderato
• 6. Serenade No.2 In a Major Op.16 Scherzo: Vivace
• 7. Serenade No.2 In a Major Op.16 Adagio Non Troppo
• 8. Serenade No.2 In a Major Op.16 Quasi Menuetto
• 9. Serenade No.2 In a Major Op.16 Rondo: Allegro