Brahms' piano music.....

[JK]

I am possibly the greatest lover of Brahms that anyone could imagine, I know a lot his music and am yet to find a piece by him that I don't love! I am learning his piano pieces opus 119 and also looking at his third sonata in fm. I was just wondering what anyone thinks of his music, whether you like it or not and what pieces you have played by him. What are your thoughts about his music?!

[matticus]

I'm learning the f minor sonata at the moment, it's an amazing piece. I've never been quite so sure what to make of the later piano music - it lacks the fire of the earlier works and doesn't feel as well-made as some of his late chamber music. The op 118 I quite like though.

[Mello]

I really like his two Rhapsodies, although his other lighter works are also nice.

[JK]

I've never been quite so sure what to make of the later piano music - it lacks the fire of the earlier works and doesn't feel as well-made as some of his late chamber music.

I think what it lacks in fire it exceeds by far in beauty and subtle use of nuances and harmony, the emotion that the later works express is a more inward emotion. The fm sonata has much more of the fire of a young composer.

[matticus]

But then I feel that he expresses this inward emotion so fabulously in the andante of the F minor sonata...

I know there is some great stuff in the later pieces though. I'll have a play through some of them this evening, it's about time I had another look.

[JK]

[ fabulously in the andante of the F minor sonata...
/quote]

I agree, I love the second movement of that piece! Especially the bit towards the end where you have that massive climatic moment, so typical of Brahms!

[sharon_f]

I played the "Edward" Ballade 35 years ago when I was in high school.  I haven't played the piano since then. About three months ago I started playing again.  I have a terrific teacher and just started on the Op. 118,  learning nos. 2 & 3 first. The A major Intermezzo is just gorgeous. I also love no. 6 in E-flat minor.

[altary]

I love his chamber music - that alone makes me a hugh Brahms fan.
I love playing his solo works as well. It's that gypsy influence that really pulled me into him.

[JK]

I love his chamber music - that alone makes me a hugh Brahms fan.

I completely forgot about his chamber music!! It's absolutely amazing, I'm playing his piano quintet on a course this summer, I'm really looking forward to that, then of course there's his quartets, violin sonatas, cello sonatas, clarinet/viola sonatas ..........the list goes on!!!