Brahms piece

[Kaytee]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum but I think its great!  Im looking for a Brahms piece to play ~ has anyone got any suggestions?  I'd like a relatively long one...maybe 3-5 pages.  Something really nice, doesn't have to be one of his famous works.  In fact I'm looking for some nice but obscure piano pieces by Brahms.

I'm also interested in his Rhapsody no 2.  However I dont know if I'll be able to play it because of my hands.  They are small.  I can stretch an octave to a 9th.  Those of you who have played this piece, do you think I could play it with a handspan that size?  The LH part at the end of the first page is really tricky, how am I supposed to finger that?

Any suggestions would be welcome.  Thanks!
Katie

[dreamaurora]

Yes, you can play it, a handspan of 9th to 10th is good enough to play the masterworks. Alicia de Larrocha has a handspan of 10th , yet she could play those seemingly impossible to play passages in Albeniz's Iberia Suite with amazing ease.

For fingering, check with your teacher, he/she would be best in aiding you. Rhapsody no 2 is a great piece by Brahm, make sure you have the emotional maturity to play that piece though.

[Hmoll]

Hi Kaytee.

What else have you played?
Both the rhapsodies are beautiful. Your hand size should not be an obstacle with these pieces.

Also, take a look at Op118 #6, and the 4 Ballades op. 10.

[tph]

I think that any of Brahms' Intermezzi Op. 117 would suit you.  Each is 3-4 pages long, which means learning the whole set is pretty reasonable for a recital, and individually they're really beautiful, although melancholic and dark.

tph

[angelucci1]

Hi,
I think TPH had a great suggestion with Op. 117.  If you haven't played a lot of Brahms, either Rhapsodie would be a good challenge for you.  Of course, there's always the very famous (and very beautiful) Intermezzo, No. 2 from Op. 118.

Are you familiar with the Op. 10 Ballades at all? I think these pieces (4 in all) stand a little better by themselves than the shorter works from the larger opi ... give them a look! They're fantastic and not over-played by any stretch.

[Leporello]

How about the E-flat minor intermezzo from Opus 118?  Wonderful piece and not exactly one of his most overplayed works.  Or, if you want to go for something a little longer and more difficult, go for the Opus 4 E-flat minor scherzo.  Very dark and passionate piece.