Brahms's masterpieces. Popular classical music.

Violin Sonata No. 3, Op. 108Johannes Brahms

Brahms / Violin Sonata No. 3, Movement 1, Op. 108: Sengawa Avenue Hall

Composed between 1886 and 1888.

With some other composers’ violin sonatas, one sometimes feels that the balance between the instruments is off, that one overwhelms the other; but in Brahms’s violin sonatas the instruments never clash and maintain a beautiful harmony throughout.

This piece conveys the emotions Brahms was experiencing at the time—feelings of loneliness brought on by the deaths of friends.

After this work, Brahms went on to write many pieces in minor keys.

Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 — I. MovementJohannes Brahms

Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 – Movement I – Karajan

Conducted by Herbert von Karajan, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

In opposition to the program music of the Romantic era, Brahms argued that music should stand on its own as music, asserting “absolute music” in the tradition of the Viennese Classicists.

Hungarian Dance No. 5Johannes Brahms

Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5

This is a collection of dances that Johannes Brahms arranged based on Gypsy music he came to admire while touring Germany.

Wanting to honor the folk music of the Gypsies, Brahms transcribed and compiled these pieces rather than composing them himself, so many listeners may feel they have a slightly different character from his usual works.

Among them, No.

5 is especially famous.

It has appeared many times in commercials, so even those who aren’t classical music fans have likely heard it.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Hungarian Dance No. 2Johannes Brahms

Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 2 [12_ Recommended Classical Piano Pieces with Sheet Music for Four Hands]

Originally composed as a piano duet, this piece is a passionate work inspired by Hungarian folk music.

Short phrases are repeated with richly nuanced dynamics woven throughout, creating an irresistible appeal that draws the listener in.

Published in 1869, it has since been arranged in various forms and performed in diverse settings, including orchestral versions and violin duets.

The fusion of powerful rhythms and emotionally rich melodies fully showcases the unique allure of the piano duet.

It is an ideal work for duet players seeking expressive performances, as well as for music lovers in search of a passionate masterpiece imbued with the flavor of folk music.

It is also recommended for those who wish to enjoy a weighty sonority and the tension of spirited interplay.

Intermezzo, Op. 118 No. 2Johannes Brahms

[4K・High Quality Sound] Intermezzo Op.118 No.2 / J. Brahms — Brahms: Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2

A piece whose gentle, graceful melody seeps into the heart.

Like waves that ebb and flow, its unhurried lines carry deep emotion and quiet reflection.

Written in 1893, it is characterized by a singing right-hand melody supported by soft left-hand chords.

In the middle section, it unfolds with passion, yet returns to the calm theme, evoking the rises and falls of life.

Expressing the stillness of an autumn dusk and feelings held within, this work is ideal for those who wish to experience the piano’s profound allure or refine delicate expressive skills.

Rather than technical bravura, it calls for attention to color and emotional nuance—an invitation to take it on with care and sensitivity.

ElegyJohannes Brahms

Brahms: Nänie (Song of Lament)

This work was composed between 1880 and 1881.

Brahms wrote this choral piece in mourning for his close friend, the painter Anselm Feuerbach, as a memorial.

The text is based on a poem by Schiller.

Although it is not widely known, it is a masterpiece.

Four Ballades, Op. 10Johannes Brahms

2023 Special Class Second Preliminary Round / Brahms: Four Ballades, Op. 10 Masaharu Kanbara

This work was composed in 1854 when Brahms was 21 years old.

It is a collection consisting of four pieces.

Only the first piece in the set is said to have been inspired by the Scottish ballad “Edward,” which tells the story of a man who stabbed his father to death.

Like Chopin’s Ballades, each piece can be performed on its own, but because the four pieces form a well-balanced whole, they are often performed together.