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
Classical Music | Piano Music
Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo No. 3 in c-sharp minor Op.117 Play
Recorded on 06/08/2005, uploaded on 03/01/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Three Intermezzi Op. 117 Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo No. 3 in c-sharp minor 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
More music by Johannes Brahms
Ballade No. 3 in b minor, Allegro, Op. 10
Intermezzo in a minor, Op. 116, No. 2, from Seven Fantasies
Intermezzo No. 2 in A Major, from Six Piano Pieces, Op. 118
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in E flat Major, Op. 120, No. 2
Variations on a theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 2
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 (Joachim cadenza)
Intermezzo in E Major, Op. 116, No. 4, from Seven Fantasies
Scherzo for Violin and Piano in c minor, WoO posth. 2 (from F.A.E. Sonata)
Capriccio in c-sharp minor, from Eight piano pieces, Op. 76
Intermezzo in b minor, Op. 119, No. 1
Performances by same musician(s)
Intermezzo No. 1 in E-flat Major Op.117
Intermezzo No. 2 in b-flat minor Op.117
Etude “En Suspens,” from Book Two
Hungarian Rhapsody No.13
Danse Russe and The Shrovetide Fair, from Petrushka
Tango No. 2
Libertango
Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in C Major KV. 521
Six Waltzes from Op. 39
Prelude Op.11, No.1
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