Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 (Brahms)
Encyclopedia
The Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118, are some of the most beloved items that the composer
Johannes Brahms
wrote for the solo instrument
. Completed in 1893 and dedicated to Clara Schumann
, the collection was the second to last composition to be published during Brahms' lifetime. It was also his second to last work composed for piano solo.
Like Brahms' other late keyboard works, Op. 118 is overall more introspective than his earlier piano pieces, which tend to be more virtuosic in character.
The six pieces are:
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
wrote for the solo instrument
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Completed in 1893 and dedicated to Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
, the collection was the second to last composition to be published during Brahms' lifetime. It was also his second to last work composed for piano solo.
Like Brahms' other late keyboard works, Op. 118 is overall more introspective than his earlier piano pieces, which tend to be more virtuosic in character.
The six pieces are:
- No. 1. IntermezzoIntermezzoIn music, an intermezzo , in the most general sense, is a composition which fits between other musical or dramatic entities, such as acts of a play or movements of a larger musical work...
in A minor. Allegro non assai, ma molto appassionato - No. 2. Intermezzo in A major. Andante teneramente
- No. 3. BalladeBallade (musical form)A ballade refers to a one-movement musical piece with lyrical and dramatic narrative qualities.- Medieval ballades :The term ballade was used to describe one type of musical setting of French poetry common in the 14th and 15th centuries...
in G minor. Allegro energico - No. 4. Intermezzo in F minor. Allegretto un poco agitato
- No. 5. RomanceRomance (music)The term romance has a centuries-long history. Applied to narrative ballads in Spain, it came to be used by the 18th century for simple lyrical pieces not only for voice, but also for instruments alone. During the 18th and 19th centuries Russian composers developed the French variety of the...
in F major. Andante - No. 6. Intermezzo in E flat minor. Andante, largo e mesto
External links
- A public domain engraving of the second piece using GNU LilyPondGNU LilyPondGNU LilyPond is a computer program for music engraving. One of LilyPond's major goals is to produce scores that are engraved with traditional layout rules, reflecting the era when scores were engraved by hand....
is available from the Mutopia ProjectMutopia projectThe Mutopia Project is a volunteer-run effort to create a library of free content sheet music, in a way similar to Project Gutenberg's library of public domain books.The music is reproduced from old scores that are out of copyright...
in several formats. - Performance of Intermezzo No.2 in A Major by Jiyang Chen
- Detailed Listening Guide using the recording by Martin Jones
- Recordings of Klavierstucke Op.118 are available from the Piano Society as well as from this website.