Brahms Sonata Op. 1

[cherub_rocker1979]

I think it rivals the Sonata op. 5. Has anyone here played it or had some interesting experiences with this piece?

[cloches_de_geneve]

I think it rivals the Sonata op. 5. Has anyone here played it or had some interesting experiences with this piece?

Is the one in C-major? I remeber that it has a gorgeous third movement, in general however, I do not think that it rivals op. 5.

[pianowelsh]

I want to learn it!  im not sure I totally agree its on a level with the op5 (which im my opinion is possibly the greatest sonata written for piano) but it is extremely fine and it does deserve a lot more attention than it gets...there are so few really fine performances of it Unfortunately now im too much otherwise engaged to sit down and learn it...but its on my forward planning rota.

[dnephi]

Op. 5 is just weird imo .

Dan

[pianowelsh]

In what way Dan?!? Long, monumental - yes! wierd...im intrigued by what you mean?

[dnephi]

Monumental?  Not really.  Just seems awkward.  It lacks the brilliance of #1 and seems sort of awkward.  Then the slow movements are nice but... slow. 

Seems almost unsophisticated melodically and harmonically not particularly exciting. 

:\

[pianowelsh]

the opening is one of the boldest in the literature you cant say its not packed with drama. the piano writing is extremely diverse and very sophisticated. It has plenty moments of brilliance..many more than the first sonata with the scherzoesque middle movement and the coda of the last!  The slow movement is profoundly simple and unaffected which makes it so moving..its like a calm after the storm.  Harmony doesnt NEED to be complex to be powerful.  Anyway we must be careful as this thread is not talkign about the merits or lack there of in the op5 3rd sonata it is addressing the first sonatat.

[dnephi]

OK.  The first sonata is one of amazing bravura, power, and sweep.  It sounds much like Beethoven.  The glorious adagio was written at the age of 14.

Manuscript calls it sonata #4.

Dan

[pianowelsh]

greed - I think you can hear much more Beethovenian influence in the early works...by the time he gets to the op5 mindue he really has his own voice. ll his sonatas are remarkable achievements - it is a shame people tend to be content with just the op5.

[arensky]

I think it rivals the Sonata op. 5. Has anyone here played it or had some interesting experiences with this piece?

Never played it, but maybe I will one of these days. It certainly rivals the Op. 5, and I personally prefer it.

[pianowelsh]

I have to say I feel the listener is taken on less of a journey in op1 than op5...of course its personal, but I find the op5 a much more gripping work and a more involved listening expedition than op1... That is not to say I dont love op1...I do! but I think we must be fair to op5 and recognise that it is a truely exceptional work and one of the greatest in the literature.

[danbourke07]

Yes I've learnt the 1st mvt, it is epic!

[nearenough]

I've got an old LP of it, but lately have been listening to S. Richter playing it live on a set of CDs from his Prague visits. The work is bold and gruff with some sequences of downward smashing chords which end a phrase or cadence. Quite effective. It also wanders a bit with unexpected twists and turn -- the performance startling and fresh.

Julius Katchen, a Brahms specialist, also plays it well on his 5 or 6 CD collection of the complete Brahms piano pieces.