Brahms, Intermezzo Op. 116, No. 6

[rachfan]

This is a less-played intermezzo.  For a short character piece, one gets the distinct impression that Brahms must have been very deep in thought when he wrote it.  For that reason, perhaps it's not as accessible to the casual listener, which might explain why it doesn't crop up as frequently as Op. 118, No. 2 in A, for example.  But the more you play or listen to it, the more you like the piece.

[teresa_b]

OK, this one popped up as I posted my replies to the other two, so I had a listen.  I adore Brahms--but he is SO difficult!

Nice start--I would again say, make the lovely melody go somewhere--I hear too much octave bass notes and not a flowing, graceful line.  The triplet/duplet rhythms in the middle section are too "careful."  Think long lines, and it will be more "ben cantando." 

This is a beautiful piece, and a bit reminiscent of op 118 no2 which you hear more often. 

Teresa

[rachfan]

Hi theresa,

Again, thanks for your ideas.  Yes, Brahms is definitely difficult to play, and often his figuration is not very friendly to the pianist.  Horowitz used to say that "he and Brahms were on bad terms".  Perhaps even he too found occasional awkwardness in Brahms' scores.  That aside, there are many gems in the Short Pieces.