The second movement is a series of dances, and opens with a rustic L\xe4ndler, which becomes distorted to the point that it no longer resembles a dance. It contains shades Mahler\u2019s Symphony no.4, Movement 2: In gem\xe4chlicher Bewegung, in the distortion of a traditional dance into a bitter and sarcastic one.
Traditional chord sequences are altered into near-unrecognizable variations, turning the rustic yet gradually decaying C major introductory L\xe4ndler into a vicious whole-tone waltz, saturated with chromaticism and frenetic rhythms. Strewn amidst these sarcastic dances is a slower and calmer L\xe4ndler which reintroduces the \u201csighing\u201d motif from the first movement. The movement ends with a cheeky pianissimo nod from the piccolo and contrabassoon.\xa0
---
A listening guide of Symphony No. 9 - 2nd Movement with Lew Smoley.