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Topic: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?  (Read 2073 times)

Offline paolo

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Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
on: May 08, 2005, 01:48:00 AM
Ok, I really love the piano concertos (or "concerti!") but am not familar with much of his solo piano repertoire.
Am I missing something & where do i start?
Paolo

Offline steinwayguy

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #1 on: May 08, 2005, 01:51:14 AM
Am I missing something

 :o

Listen to just about everything-
the three sonatas, four opus 10 ballades, variations, hungarian dances, and intermezzi, especially op. 116-119

Offline cucudas

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #2 on: May 08, 2005, 01:57:31 AM
i love Brahms Sonata No 2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i just started this song today lol

Offline apion

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #3 on: May 08, 2005, 03:18:41 AM
As to Brahms solo piano music, there are, perhaps, two camps: those who revere his early/middle works; and those who consider his later works the most transcendent thing since Moses.

I am of the former camp (early/middle), and I would recommend:

Piano Sonatas 2 and 3;
Handel Variations;
Paganini Variations;
Schumann Variations; and
Variations on an Original Theme.

Overall, I think the Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, op. 24, is superlatively sublime.  8)

Offline Dazzer

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #4 on: May 08, 2005, 04:58:22 AM
i highly recommend his chamber works too. namely his piano quintet and quartets, trios etc.

Offline alextryan

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #5 on: May 09, 2005, 02:17:05 AM
I'm in the later works camp, and I would track down Richard Goode's recording of Opp 76, 116, and 119.  It's a body of work that took me, at least, a long time to get familiar with, but it stands out as some of the most personal, most articulately expressive work for the piano I know.  But be warned -- it's all a bear to play.  It's a little like learning the piano all over again.  Enjoy! 

Offline abe

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #6 on: May 09, 2005, 03:02:17 AM
Try the two rhapsodies op. 79--both very fun to play and satisfying to listen to. I agree that the Variations and Fugue on a theme of Handel is truly breathtaking (particularly the last minute or so of the fugue), even moreso than the Paganini variations IMO (also very recomended). His later works are also worth it.

I'd recomend bying the box set of Julius Katchen playing the complete solo works (Decca). Superb playing and very well priced. Definately worth it.
--Abe

Offline apion

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #7 on: May 09, 2005, 04:14:49 AM
I agree that the Variations and Fugue on a theme of Handel is truly breathtaking (particularly the last minute or so of the fugue),  even moreso than the Paganini variations IMO (also very recomended). His later works are also worth it.

I'd recomend bying the box set of Julius Katchen playing the complete solo works (Decca). Superb playing and very well priced. Definately worth it.

The entire fugue-finale of Brahms op. 24 (Handel Variations) is utterly spellbinding.  That fugue is rivalled only by the fugue in the finale of Beethoven's Hammerklavier......... and, perhaps, the Beethoven's SQ Grosse Fugue.

Simply one of the greatest things ever penned .......

AND I AGREE THAT JULIUS KATCHEN IS TITS.

Offline Floristan

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #8 on: May 09, 2005, 06:14:38 AM
Brahms wrote some jewels of the small-piece literature late in life.  Op. 116-119 contain some of the most exquisite, heartfelt, tender, sad, lonely, pensive, etc. pieces ever penned.  Also some of the most passionate pieces.

They are all worth playing and listening to.  Katchen is as good a place to start as any.  His renditions are very good.  The Rhapsodies Op. 79 are both great, too.  His early Ballades (Op. 10) are well worth a look.  Michaelangeli recorded them well.  The Haydn variations are brilliant, I think especially in their two-piano version.

Well worth investigating in detail!

Offline rohansahai

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Re: Brahms Solo Piano Music. Am I missing something?
Reply #9 on: May 09, 2005, 03:58:23 PM
As to Brahms solo piano music, there are, perhaps, two camps: those who revere his early/middle works; and those who consider his later works the most transcendent thing since Moses.

I am of the former camp (early/middle), and I would recommend:

Piano Sonatas 2 and 3;
Handel Variations;
Paganini Variations;
Schumann Variations; and
Variations on an Original Theme.

Overall, I think the Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, op. 24, is superlatively sublime. 8)
Do not forget the WALTZES !!!
Waste of time -- do not read signatures.
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