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. 2 in b-flat minor Op.117 Play
Recorded on 06/07/2005, uploaded on 03/01/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Three Intermezzi Op.117 Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo No. 2 in b-flat 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
Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Paganini variatons
Capriccio in d minor, Op 116, No. 7, from Seven Fantasies
Intermezzo in E Major, Op. 116, No. 4, from Seven Fantasies
Schicksalslied, Op. 54
Capriccio in c-sharp minor, from Eight piano pieces, Op. 76
Intermezzo in b minor, Op. 119, No. 1
Klavierstücke op. 118 - VI. Intermezzo
Intermezzo in A Major, from Eight piano pieces, Op. 76
Intermezzo in e minor, Op. 116, No. 5, from Seven Fantasies
Performances by same musician(s)
Danse Russe and The Shrovetide Fair, from Petrushka
Hungarian Rhapsody No.13
Tango No. 2
Prelude Op.11, No.1
Prelude Op.11, No.14
Intermezzo No. 1 in E-flat Major Op.117
Etude “En Suspens,” from Book Two
Libertango
Fantasy in f minor, D. 940
Milonga del Angel
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