Brahm's Variations on an original theme

[howiehc]

  Wow discovering this site really made my day! I've been reading all the past posts for like hours 

I've been trying to find a non-flashy, relatively long... and simply a piece that gives you the "nice and warm" tingling feelings.  Then i stumbled across this Variations by Brahms (op21 #1). So many tender moments and amazingly I don't think it's technically difficutl either but the music is just beautiful. Probably not a performance piece but such a treat to play for relaxation and it allows you to put so much emotions in it! 

  Is this not a popular piece at all? I can't seem to find many discussions or background on it. Have people heard this piece before or played it before?

Here is a recording online: https://www.garageband.com/song?|pe1|S8LTM0LdsaSnZlO1ZWE
you can also find the sheet music at free-scores.com

[apion]

Brahms is one of the top-3 composers of variations (with Beethoven and Bach), and I think they're all gems, especially his Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24 and Paganini Variations.

This is a GREAT piece of moderate difficulty.

[apion]

I should mention that I have a friend who's a big Brahms nut, and, not surprisingly, he thinks this is one of Brahms' niftiest works for solo piano.  He also thinks it's a tough piece.

I have no idea why it isn't performed more than it is. 

[pianonut]

i agree with apion. 

just listened to 'variations on a theme by frank bridge' by benjamin britten.  it's interesting, too, for 20th century variations.

[ujos3]

Hi

I just want to say that the less known Variations on a theme by Schumann Op.9 are really Wonderful!!!

They are really romantic, in Schumann style , some (4th, 11th) are really poetic. (I am desperatly looking for a free sheet in Internet).

Possibly they are technically less brilliant than Handel Variations (for many people the most amazing set of variations since Bach's Goldberg).
But as a music work they are one of the most melancholic and romantic pieces I've heard. (they were dedicated to Clara when Schumann was mentally ill, with strong depression).

[apion]

Hi

I just want to say that the less known Variations on a theme by Schumann Op.9 are really Wonderful!!!

They are really romantic, in Schumann style , some (4th, 11th) are really poetic. (I am desperatly looking for a free sheet in Internet).

Possibly they are technically less brilliant than Handel Variations (for many people the most amazing set of variations since Bach's Goldberg).
But as a music work they are one of the most melancholic and romantic pieces I've heard. (they were dedicated to Clara when Schumann was mentally ill, with strong depression).

Ditto to everything.

[ahmedito]

I just played these variations in concert about 2 weeks ago.

They are incredible, but they are also MUCH MUCH harder than they look. Brahms gives you some ossias, but they are really much inferior to the original measures.


They are also incredibly difficult in terms of sound-form and subtle things (phrasing, colours, dinamic levels and such). They are of moderate difficulty if all you rate is how fast you can move your fingers though (and even then, there are some passages that are quite difficult).

Id be glad to help with any specific questions you may have about this great work.

[apion]

I just played these variations in concert about 2 weeks ago.

They are incredible, but they are also MUCH MUCH harder than they look. Brahms gives you some ossias, but they are really much inferior to the original measures.


They are also incredibly difficult in terms of sound-form and subtle things (phrasing, colours, dinamic levels and such). They are of moderate difficulty if all you rate is how fast you can move your fingers though (and even then, there are some passages that are quite difficult).

Id be glad to help with any specific questions you may have about this great work.

I'm curious as to why these variations are not performed more frequently?