Classical Music | Piano Music

Johannes Brahms

Intermezzo in a minor, Op. 116, No. 2, from Seven Fantasies  Play

Christopher Atzinger Piano

Recorded on 01/02/2007, uploaded on 01/27/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Intermezzo in a minor, Op. 116, No. 2, from Seven Fantasies      Johannes Brahms

For Brahms, 1892 was a productive year for keyboard compositions, as he completed both the Op. 118 and Op. 119 sets in addition to the fantasies that comprise Opus 116.  The seven pieces of Op. 116 balance individuality with large-scale cohesion...

Second in the set is the Intermezzo in a minor, which opens with a meditative theme based on two eighth notes followed by a half note.  The rising or falling nature of the half note is responsible for tension and release.  The B section retains this short then long rhythmic pattern, though now in the left hand as the right hand becomes more active.  The following A Major section offers a lush contrast while also serving as transition, as the opening motive returns, initially decorated through the use of grace notes...      Christopher Atzinger