Favorite Brahms Piano Works

[scherzo123]

Mine are his Rhapsodies Op.79, Intermezzi Op.117, Piano Quartet Op.60, Piano Concerto No.2, and Klavierstucke Op.118. Any piano concertos or piano chamber music count too!!! 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

His Hungarian dances for solo piano.

[davidjosepha]

Mine are his Rhapsodies Op.79, Intermezzi Op.117, Piano Quartet Op.60, Piano Concerto No.2, and Klavierstucke Op.118. Any piano concertos or piano chamber music count too!!! 

You basically listed half his piano works.

My favorites would be his Scherzo, Op. 4 and Sonata No. 3

[nanabush]

I'm really digging his Op 117... During high school I was obsessed with playing "fast and difficult" pieces, and really had to rethink 'my ways' when I started taking music at university.  I'm playing this set as part of my recital program for this year, and it's just incredible how he balances these freaking pieces!  It's such a serene grouping between some Rachmaninoff Preludes...

The melody in Op 117 #1 instantly drew me to these; I had only played his G minor Rhapsody, a few of his Waltzes, and 4 hand versions of the Hungarian Dances, and was aware that his melodic writing is incredible.  So I had heard the Op 117 before, but hadn't REALLY sat and taken it all in.  Now that I'm actually starting to work at these (I've baaaarely gotten started!) I get the chills when I get around to these during practice 

[davidjosepha]

Learning the entire opus? That's pretty cool. I did that with op. 79, but that's pretty easy since it's just 2 pieces. Are you planning to perform the opus together at some point?

[nanabush]

You bet!

I haven't started learning the second or third parts, but the whole set is going to be part of my programme.

I'm playing some Rach and Debussy in the second half, and they are pretty energetic pieces, so the Brahms in between is like a mini intermission

[davidjosepha]

I'm playing some Rach and Debussy in the second half, and they are pretty energetic pieces, so the Brahms in between is like a mini intermission

Is everything in your signature going to be performed?

[49410enrique]

well the whole thing but first mvmnt is my favorite mvmnt.

[mousekowski]

Op.76 No.5 is my favourite by a mile. Wonderful half-crazed passion. I've had a go at taming it a few years ago but gave up. I'll come back to it one day...

[nanabush]

Everyone but the etudes I think.  I might add 2 more Rach preludes, or resurrect either Estampes or Pour le Piano by Debussy.

I'm trying to get a good variety of stuff so that between my 3rd year (2011/12) and this year has enough rep for audition material.  The etudes (along with a few from last year) just in case they want to hear one or two in addition.

[davidjosepha]

Ah, cool. I really like your choice of Rach preludes, op. 23 nos. 2,4,5,6 are just great. If you throw in another, I'd consider 32/13. You also might want to consider adding one of the etudes-tableaux instead of another prelude.

And 25/11 is my favorite Chopin etude.

Carry on

[mozartk365]

Two rhapsodies, Op.79 and Paganini Variations

[haydnseeker]

All 20 pieces in the Opp. 116-119 sets.

Of the larger works, I like the Handel Variations most.

[chopianologue]

Rhapsodies op.79, and Hungarian Dances.