Classical Music | Piano Music

Johannes Brahms

Intermezzo No. 1 in E-flat Major Op.117  Play

Lucille Chung Piano

Recorded on 06/08/2005, uploaded on 03/01/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Three Intermezzi Op. 117     Johannes Brahms

Intermezzo No. 1 in E-flat Major Op. 117

The three Intermezzi Op.117 were composed in 1892, when Brahms was entering his sixties, and was less concerned with piano virtuosity. With a preference for ternary design, placing a contrasting section at the heart of the piece, Brahms comes fresh to each one, molding it according to its own musical flavor. The first Intermezzo is headed with a brief quotation from a Scottish lullaby as translated by Herder, although its character as a lullaby could not be in doubt. The other two Intermezzi-the third especially-have a more melancholy air. Brahms' deft sleight of hand may be observed in the second piece, where the fragmented, broken shape of the opening is transformed into a smooth chordal passage in the middle as if it were a quite new idea.    Lucille Chung

Listeners' Comments        (You have to be logged in to leave comments)

this one of my most favorite pieces i have heard ever, how can anybody reach such depths of tenderness and human devotion for the loved one? These generation of romantic composers touched the earth only once, and their miracle will never be repeated again: Brahms, Chopin, Schubert, Schumann et al
are verily stars shining on forever, as long as humanity keeps and guards them as a most cherished treasure.

Submitted by otirudam on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 19:45. Report abuse