Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo
in A Major, Op. 118 No. 2

This lyrical, moving, nocturne-like Intermezzo pulls us into a world of dreamy nostalgia and quiet longing. It sways tenderly like a lullaby, with the typical Brahmsian sophisticated web of inner voices.

ID: 207
Key: A Major
Year: 1893
Level: 8+
Period: Early Romantic
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Urtext Download
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piano music mp3 recording Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 - FREE SAMPLE (mp3 file)

Secret Love Letter

Behind the somewhat bland titles that Brahms gave his late piano pieces (Intermezzo, Capriccio, Rhapsody, etc.) we find music of great introspection and beauty. That is certainly true of this Intermezzo, which is among his most beloved compositions. Often referred to as a secret love letter to Clara Schumann, it is a very popular choice among good amateur pianists. Such endeavors are certainly worthy, and the pianist will be well rewarded with a nostalgic and yearning experience that calms the soul and lifts the spirit.

Background

The Klavierstücke Op.118 were written in 1893 during the composer's yearly summer sojourn at Bad Ischl. Like his other late outpourings of short pieces for the piano (op. 116, 117, and 119), they were written mainly for Clara Schumann, who was still a formidable pianist in her 70s at the time. No one knows just how deep the feelings between Clara and Johannes were after Robert’s death, but it is obvious that the two loved each other very dearly.


Forum posts about this piece:

Brahms Intermezzo 118 a major by markjaffe
I have gotten to the point where I can play through the intermezzo 118 no 2 fairly well. The part that I am having an issue with is with the...

[ATCL in 2 weeks] slightly under time limit by jessipch
hi guys, I will be having my ATCL in 2 weeks. We did record (including bowings) which was within 32-38 mins (~33mins), as required by Trinit...

Improving finger weight and hearing by jessipch
How can you improve finger weight? I have been playing brahms intermezzo op118 no.2 My teacher pointed out a very serious problem of mine: p...

Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118, No. 2-- Fingering by jcmusic
Hi, Just started this piece.  As always, having fingering problems.  The public domain version I have has no fingering suggestion...

JOHANNES BRAHMS -"INTERMEZZO OP118 NO2 IN MAJOR A" by bach_ko
hi~ i'm looking for the information of "intermezzo op119 no2 in major A" by brahms, is anyone of u out there know about it? i...

Re: help me find a good romantic, "erotic" sounding piece to play by dnephi
Grieg miniature Erotik, I believe. Umm, there's gymnopedia I by satie as well.  For real romance, there's Brahms Op. 118 N...

Intermezzo Op. 118/2 - Roman-numeral analysis by allchopin
As the title suggests, I am looking to do a Roman-numeral analysis on Brahms' well-known intermezzo and I could use some advice.  ...

Intermezzo Op 118 No 2 by meli
Hi Guys. Has anyone studied this piece? I am really struggling with the expression in it! I have heard several recordings of it, and it soun...

brahms by rubix
I am playing Intermezzo Op. 188, No. 2, by Brahms, and was wondering if rubato is expected or acceptable in this piece. It seems to me to fl...

I recorded Intermezzo op 118, no 2 by Mykinator
Hi guys, I have a recital coming up in a little over a week.  So I decided to record my piece. The sound quality isn't very good, and...


Member's recordings of piece:

Video: Brahms - Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118 No. 2 by vincentinseattle
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1goaebwYLzQ Amateur first recording on a classical piece, please comment and like. Thank you!...

Brahms Intermezzo in A major op.118 no.2 by hakki
Hope you enjoy listening. youtu.be/T4FkES-6I8A ...

Brahms, J. Intermezzo, Op. 118 No. 2 by c_minor
Hi everyone, Here's a recording of me playing Brahms' Intermezzo, Op.118 No. 2. I want to play this piece well so any constructiv...

VIDEO: Brahms, Intermezzo, op. 118/2 by lateromantic
I first worked on this Brahms Intermezzo at Juilliard in 1970 or 1971, but I don't think I was emotionally mature enough to appreciate ...

Brahms, J - Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118 No. 2 - archive student exam recital by visitor
So I was inspired by rachfan's recent re-release of a decade(s) old recording of  Rachmaninoff piece. Was also encouraged privatel...

Brahms - Intermezzo Op.118 No.2 by liszt85
I'm still working on it, had done the first half some time ago and did the second half this past couple of weeks. Had one lesson on it....

Brahms and Khachaturian by poiu
Here I'm after a (long) while Two new tracks that I've recorded in March... Slowly I'll put more on Youtube [url=www.youtu...

Brahms- Intermezzo #2 Op.118 by fbt
Thank you for listening. Feel free to comment....

Brahms, Intermezzo op. 118-2 by lluiscl
Hi everyone. First time here, with this marvellous piece. Recorded with zoom H2 in a Pleyel/Schimmel 174 grand, 30 years old, tuned and adju...

brahms intermezzo in A, op118 no.2 by jehangircama
today's rec. of my playing this intermezzo. was having a bit of trouble with the softer notes, as the keys are a bit weak due to lots o...

Brahms - Intermezzo op. 118 nr. 2 by henry_v
An encore after a recent recital. ...

Brahms Op. 118/2 by leggiero
Hi everyone, Oops never mind!  ::) ...

Brahms - Intermezzo Op. 118/2 by quantum
Recorded today.  Piano was just tuned, and the hammers reshaped a bit.  The scale is now more even between the bichord / trichor...

Brahms Intermezzo op.118 No.2 in AM by winterwind_23
Recorded this today. It took lots of cutting and pasting, and re-recording to get to a listenable recording, since I always mess up when I p...


Members who like this piece have also downloaded:

Classical piano sheet music by Brahms to download: Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 in the key of This piece has difficulty level 8+ in the category Piece
Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 in A Major, a composition by the early romantic composer Johannes Brahms who was born in 1833 and died in 1897. The piano score of this piece was first published in 1893 and is part of Brahms's Six Pieces.