Brahms's masterpieces. Popular classical music.
Here are some recommended works from the many masterpieces left by the German composer Johannes Brahms.
If you get to know Brahms—hailed as one of the “Three Bs” of German music alongside Bach and Beethoven—you’ll be well on your way to becoming a classical music connoisseur.
His Symphony No.
1, composed with deep respect for Beethoven, was so strongly influenced by him that the conductor of its premiere, Hans von Bülow, famously called it “Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony.”
Please enjoy the world of Brahms, which continues to be cherished by classical music fans today.
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Brahms Masterpieces: Popular Classical Music (61–70)
Intermezzo, No. 2 from Six PiecesJohannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms composed Six Pieces in his later years.
The second piece, Intermezzo, is marked to be played tenderly and with affection, and it exudes a benevolent, compassionate character.
Completed in 1893, it was dedicated to his close friend Clara Schumann.
The inner-voice melody is striking, and it is important to perform it at a singable tempo with heartfelt expression.
Brahms called this work a “monologue,” intending for performers and listeners to engage in a dialogue with their inner selves through the music.
With its long-breathed quality, like quiet respiration in solitude and silence, it possesses a timeless beauty suited both to contemplation before the performance and to the lingering afterglow that follows.
7 Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 4, Intermezzo in E majorJohannes Brahms
Brahms’s masterpiece Seven Fantasies combines dreamy and passionate sides.
This time, I’ll introduce No.
4, Intermezzo, from Op.
116, which has a particularly dreamy character.
Marked Adagio with a nocturne-like atmosphere, the piece is overall relaxed, featuring a beautiful, appealing melody.
When performing, be careful: with multiple voices and a detailed sixteenth-note accompaniment in the left hand, the right-hand melody can easily get buried.
Practice finger independence, and for the fine-note accompaniment, try playing with the feeling of lightly tracing the keys.
It’s also a great piece for those looking to refine their expressive skills.
Seven Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 5, Intermezzo in E minorJohannes Brahms
Brahms composed the solo piano collection Seven Fantasies at the age of 59.
The fifth piece, with its gentle, swaying rhythmic feel, is a beautiful work suffused with an introspective atmosphere.
Its simple melody in 6/8 time is said to reflect Brahms’s late-life solitude and his meditations on death.
The performance direction, “gracefully and with the most inward feeling,” also makes clear that the piece calls for delicate, deeply personal expression.
Within its soft, dreamlike aura, elegance and melancholy intersect.
It’s a recommended piece for anyone wishing to experience Brahms’s profound emotions and rich musicality.
7 Fantasias, Op. 116: No. 6, Intermezzo in E majorJohannes Brahms
This work is known as the first short piece from his late period, and today it is cherished by many classical music enthusiasts as a culmination of Brahms’s artistry.
Its difficulty as a piano piece is approachable even for beginners, and you’ll occasionally hear it at children’s piano recitals.
Because it employs a structure close to counterpoint, it’s also a great choice for learning fundamental and essential piano techniques.
I highly recommend giving it a try.
Eight Pieces, Op. 76: No. 2, CapriccioJohannes Brahms
Brahms composed Eight Pieces in the summer of 1878.
The second piece is characterized by its lively, energetic staccato.
Positioned during his transition to a late style, it lets us sense his music evolving in a new direction.
The theme, marked by accents on the left hand’s weak beats, is striking, and a light, buoyant rhythm is maintained throughout.
In the middle section, a gentle melody appears, bringing contrast to the character of the piece.
Combining introspective beauty with vitality, it is a captivating work and recommended for piano students as well.
Eight Pieces, Op. 76: No. 3, Intermezzo in A-flat majorJohannes Brahms
Among Brahms’s late works, the indispensable masterpiece Eight Pieces stands out—a set you’ll often hear at piano recitals.
From this collection, today I’d like to introduce the Intermezzo No.
3.
Alongside No.
7, No.
3 is known as one of the most approachable pieces in the set.
If you shape the musical flow not only through the melody but also by imagining the left-hand bass line as a driving force, your performance will gain a more three-dimensional quality.
8 Pieces, Op. 76: No. 4, Intermezzo in B-flat majorJohannes Brahms
Brahms’s set of piano pieces, Eight Pieces.
Among them, No.
4 is written in the warm key of B-flat major and is characterized by a gentle, delicate mood.
Though concise, it features a melody of depth supported by Brahms’s characteristically rich harmonies.
Since its publication in 1878, it has been highly regarded as emblematic of his late musical style.
Despite its brief duration of about two and a half minutes, it condenses subtle emotional expression into a compact form.
Highly recommended for those who want to fully savor the charm of Romantic music.
8 Pieces, Op. 76 No. 6: Intermezzo in A majorJohannes Brahms
No.
6 from Brahms’s Eight Pieces, composed in 1878.
It has a gentle, lyrical character, marked by a beautifully balanced and harmonious melody.
The mood is calm and elegant, with a performance time of about four minutes.
Despite its simple, approachable tune, it possesses deep emotion and a refined structure, exploring an inner stillness and a reflective atmosphere in particular.
Recommended for those who wish to experience a work that quietly reveals Brahms’s inner world.
8 Pieces, Op. 76: No. 7, Intermezzo in A MinorJohannes Brahms
Brahms’s Eight Pieces, composed in 1878, are introspective works that offer a glimpse into the onset of his mature period.
Among them, No.
7 is relatively easy to play compared to many of his pieces.
Written in 2/2 time and marked “gently, simply,” it is performed with a calm, unadorned character.
The same theme appears at the beginning and the end, while the middle section introduces a striking figuration, creating a symmetrical structure that still conveys shifting emotions.
A dark, introspective atmosphere pervades the piece, evoking deep sorrow and loneliness, yet within it one can also sense quiet and repose.
Set in A minor with no key signature, it’s a great recommendation for those who find key signatures challenging but still want to learn to play something.
Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118 No. 2, from “Six Pieces”Johannes Brahms
Piano Pieces, Op.
118, composed in Brahms’s late years.
One of the pieces is dedicated to Clara Schumann, his close friend and a gifted pianist.
This work is characterized by a gentle tone full of kindness and affection.
It follows a three-part structure: a first section with a beautiful, recurring melody; a middle section that modulates to the minor and incorporates chorale-like elements; and a return to the opening melody.
Completed in 1893, the piece embodies Brahms’s mature musicianship and profound emotional expression, conveying his deep admiration for Clara.
Composed in a quiet summer retreat, the setting may also have influenced the work’s introspective character.