Brahms pieces op 116 & 118

[tabris]

In the upcoming semester I'm thinking of trying a set of Brahms' piano pieces.  I haven't played anything substantial by him.  I'm considering either op. 116 or 118.  Which set is more difficult overall?  They're about the same length in terms of time but 116 has one more piece than 118.  Also is one more overplayed than the other?  I know the Intermezzo in A major from 118 is pretty popular but how about the sets overall?  Also do these sets make good competition pieces?  If so is one better than the other?  And finally please tell me anything about what you like about these pieces.  There are some truly gorgeous passages in all of the pieces.

Thanks

[robertp]

I've got a bias: "you can't go wrong playing any Brahms."

That said....

If you haven't played anything substantial by him, it's well worth nosing around before deciding.  The waltzes, for one thing. The G Minor Rhapsody (79.2). The earlier sets of variations. You may wind up changing your mind  . But if you don't....

I personally have a strong feeling for Op. 118 (which you mentioned) and Op. 119 (which you didn't). In line with my first sentence, I've nothing against Op. 116, but....

118.  The individual pieces probably are more overplayed, and in my experience, one hears the complete group more often than 116. But that is not a negative. Also, everyone seems to play 118.2. That's not a negative either. Just because for many it's easy of initial approach, as opposed to really playing, doesn't detract a bit. It's ravishing.

So between 116 and 118, I'd go for the latter. There's often good reason why warhorses are worhorses!

119. I'd like to put in a word for these pieces. Personally, I find them the most Brahms of Brahms, at least as far as solo piano works. There's only four of them, making it easier to hold an audience. And 119.4 is a real crowd-pleaser. Sounds harder than it is, and gets the listeners going every time.

But you're in a win-win situation.

[iumonito]

116 is harder than 118.  Both are superb.

For competitions, neither is in the same league with Prokofiev War sonatas, but they are not unheard of.  Benedetto Lupo played 116 very effectively in a Van Cliburn maybe 12 years ago and made it to the finals.  Roberto Plano played 118 in the most recent and also made it to the finals.  Both works can sink you or elate you, strictly on the merits of your musicianship.

Both of them are tightly knit motivically, just like the suites of Bach and the secretly connected sets of Schumann (e.g., Carnaval, Kinderszenen).  I know of no extra-musical sources for these two works (or 119, 117.1 has a reference to a poem, but it is unclear whether it refers also to 117.2 and .3 or only to 117.1).

I would jump into these without hesitation.  If you like Brahms, you will eventually play Op. 10, 79 and 117; no need to do them first.  Enjoy.