Sonata for Piano No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1 Johannes
Brahms
Allegro; Andante; Scherzo; Finale
Brahms was only 20 years old when he composed this sonata. Although Op. 1 was completed after his
second sonata, it was published as his first piece. Brahms thought this sonata would open doors for him in the
musical world. He was right. Schumann said of this piece: "he transforms
the piano into an orchestra... this is like a small symphony..."
The opening theme is energetic and reminiscent of the first theme of
Beethoven's Sonata Op. 106, although it traverses a richer and more complex
key-sequence than the Beethoven. The
movement ends with climactic writing where handfuls of notes cover a very large
range of the keyboard.
The second movement is a short set of variations based on a theme from
an old German love song Verstohlen geht
der Mond auf (The furtive moon is rising).
The tune is treated with tenderness and captures the nocturnal mood of
the song. The movement is a lyrical
paean which looks forward to the composer's Ballades, Op 10.
The Scherzo is full of rhythmic vitality in Brahms's favorite galloping
meter of 6/8. The opening theme is loud
and fierce. This is countered, however,
with a sublime, romantic trio section that offers sweeping chromatic arches
along with its sense of forward movement.
The exhilarating Rondo-finale is marked Allegro con fuoco, and is in 9/8 meter, maintaining a sense of the
Scherzo it follows. The staccato main
theme of the Rondo is a sly variation of a theme from the first movement. Arpeggios on weak beats-usually the
ninth-give the music an irresistible rhythmic flair. Homophonic episodes, first
in G major and then in a minor, form the interior sections of the
movement. Brahms said that the Robert
Burn's poem "My heart's in the Highlands" had inspired him in this movement. The
rondo theme returns leading into a breathless Presto coda which ends the work with a bubbly, infectious vitality. Jean-François Latour
Classical Music | Piano Music
Johannes Brahms
Sonata for Piano No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1 Play
Recorded on 01/25/2005, uploaded on 01/08/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Sonata for Piano No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1 Johannes Brahms
Allegro; Andante; Scherzo; Finale
Brahms was only 20 years old when he composed this sonata. Although Op. 1 was completed after his second sonata, it was published as his first piece. Brahms thought this sonata would open doors for him in the musical world. He was right. Schumann said of this piece: "he transforms the piano into an orchestra... this is like a small symphony..."
The opening theme is energetic and reminiscent of the first theme of Beethoven's Sonata Op. 106, although it traverses a richer and more complex key-sequence than the Beethoven. The movement ends with climactic writing where handfuls of notes cover a very large range of the keyboard.
The second movement is a short set of variations based on a theme from an old German love song Verstohlen geht der Mond auf (The furtive moon is rising). The tune is treated with tenderness and captures the nocturnal mood of the song. The movement is a lyrical paean which looks forward to the composer's Ballades, Op 10.
The Scherzo is full of rhythmic vitality in Brahms's favorite galloping meter of 6/8. The opening theme is loud and fierce. This is countered, however, with a sublime, romantic trio section that offers sweeping chromatic arches along with its sense of forward movement.
The exhilarating Rondo-finale is marked Allegro con fuoco, and is in 9/8 meter, maintaining a sense of the Scherzo it follows. The staccato main theme of the Rondo is a sly variation of a theme from the first movement. Arpeggios on weak beats-usually the ninth-give the music an irresistible rhythmic flair. Homophonic episodes, first in G major and then in a minor, form the interior sections of the movement. Brahms said that the Robert Burn's poem "My heart's in the Highlands" had inspired him in this movement. The rondo theme returns leading into a breathless Presto coda which ends the work with a bubbly, infectious vitality. Jean-François Latour
More music by Johannes Brahms
Capriccio in d minor, Op. 116, No. 1, from Seven Fantasies
Intermezzo in a minor, Op. 116, No. 2, from Seven Fantasies
Intermezzo No. 2 in A Major, from Six Piano Pieces, Op. 118
Piano Quintet in f minor, Op 34
Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79, No. 2
Intermezzo in e minor, Op. 116, No. 5, from Seven Fantasies
Intermezzo No. 1 in E-flat Major Op.117
Intermezzo No. 2 in b-flat minor Op.117
Piano Sonata no. 3 Op. 5 in f minor
Klavierstücke op. 118 - I. Intermezzo
Performances by same musician(s)
Première communion de la vierge, from Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jésus
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