Introduction : theoretical and repertorial contexts ; The early minor-mode scherzos : ghosts of Schumann and Beethoven ; Minuets, scherzos, and neoclassicism ; The pastoral scherzos ; Some intermezzos ; The late minor-mode scherzos ; Waltzing away with the minuet ; 3 impostors ; The case of the 4th symphony and some concluding thoughts ; Appendix ; Bibliography ; Index

Despite the incredible diversity in Brahms's scherzo-type movements, there has been no comprehensive consideration of this aspect of his oeuvre. Professor Ryan McClelland provides an in-depth study of these movements that also contributes significantly to an understanding of Brahms's compositional language and his creative dialogue with musical traditions. McClelland especially highlights the role of rhythmic-metric design in Brahms's music and its relationship to expressive meaning. In Brahms's scherzo-type movements, McClelland traces transformations of primary thematic material, demonstrating how the relationship of the initial music to its subsequent versions creates a musical narrative that provides structural coherensce and generates expressive meaning.