Symphony No. 2 (Brian)

Symphony No. 2
by Havergal Brian
Havergal Brian, c. 1900
KeyE minor
Composed1930–1931
DedicationElfreda Brian
Published1949
PublisherSchott and Co
Duration48–53 minutes
Movements4
Premiere
Date19 May 1973
LocationBrighton Dome, Brighton
ConductorLeslie Head
PerformersKensington Symphony Orchestra

The Symphony No. 2 in E minor is a symphony composed by Havergal Brian between 1930 and 1931. It was his third before he reorganized his catalogue in 1967. The work was inspired by Goethe's drama Götz von Berlichingen. It was originally dedicated to Richard Strauss, but in 1972 he changed it to his then recently deceased daughter Elfreda Brian. While it appears to be a traditional, four-movement symphony in the German postromantic tradition, Brian greatly deviates from convention, and his personal approach to the symphonic discourse only shares superficial elements with other composers.