intermezzo in A brahms op 118 <3 <3 <3

[_chops]

Hi i just want to say that I think this is sort of the best piece in the world! I cry when I hear it, its like my heart is going to blead or something. Its lovely. And I want to learn it noooooow!

   so is it anybody here who have played it this intermezzo op 118 in A by Brahms? Please share of your experiences...
   my concert in shcool is in 22 may, do you think I'll manage to learn it before that? Im learning shcubert op 90 n 2 impromotu for the moment, but its pretty good and almsot finished.
   how much work do you think this piece requires?

and... does someone else here love it!!?

[mike_lang]

How much work does this piece require for whom?  If you feel so strongly for it, then just play it.

[pianistimo]

nothing repeats exactly as before - so you have to work out your own 'code' to remember all the changes.  it's a more difficult piece than it looks - but very beautiful.  for people like me who rely on finger memory too, you have to increase your mental memory a lot.  otherwise you say 'oops' when you suddenly repeat it the same as the first time and are stuck in a perpetual loop.  i used to make up stories or words that would fit together to remind me of the notes to play.  don't know what techniques others use.

[lisztisforkids]

I like the C# minor and Eb minor intermezzos much more... I find the A mjor intermezzo is just a little to mushy for me..

[crazy for ivan moravec]

i just did my grad recital a few hours ago, what a coincidence coz i played this as an encore. wonderful piece! a lot of memories for me.

you need to work on your sensitive touch. it needs great control. it's very musically demanding though it looks easy, but over time, it will grow in you and you will love to play it every now and then. i've played this for 6 years on any occassion and people have always loved it. it's quite personal for me already. every time i bring it back, it  matures.

that chordal section is heaven and there is a hidden voice in the top note of the left hand (imitates the melody of the RH), you might wanna bring it out in the 2nd time brahms repeats it with the harmony change.

generally, keep your top notes really nice and just the right amount of voicing it. rubatos should be reserved only at places where you need to breathe and change color according to its harmony. horizontally, it should be simple and flowing. follow the contour of the lines, it might help if you sing it.

it is easy to overdo musical ideas for this piece because it seems that you wana let passion take over it, but don't... try to always contain it, try to be like brahms' love for clara which was always kept inside. so always try to record yourself and check excessive things out.

hope that helps. good luck.

[quantum]

It's a beautiful piece, and I learned it in my last year at university.  It does have it's difficulties though.  Memory wise you really have to know many starting points within the piece, because if you slip up there are so many almost similar passages that you could easily mix one up.  There is much to work with in terms of interpretation, and that is probably the biggest challenge.  Brahms leaves a lot for the pianist to discover within the music.  This is a piece that gets better with time.  The more you play it the more you discover and play around with it. 

I posted a recording in the Audition Room a while ago:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,12669.0.html

[pianistimo]

edited.  this IS a piece that gets better with time.  i liked the countermelody in the middle section repeat.