Podcast Program No. 56
A Young Brahms (40.93MB)
Music for violin and piano, and string sextet, performed by violinist Viviane Hagner, pianist Avner Arad, and Musicians from Marlboro.

•Brahms: Sonatensatz for violin and piano
•Brahms: String Sextet in B-flat Major, Op. 18

Brahms played chamber music from a young age, and these compositions demonstrate a deep commitment to and love of the music created by a small number of players. Whether he wrote for two instruments, or for six, Brahms gave each part its own unique character, so that each voice contributes to the structural and emotional integrity of the music. The Sonatensatz was originally the scherzo movement of a sonata that Brahms wrote with his friends, Albert Dietrich and Robert Schumann. It is a true collaboration between the violin and piano, demanding full emotional intensity from both instruments. In the string sextet, Brahms takes full advantage of each member of the ensemble. It is lushly textured; rich in the bass register; and ethereal in the high violin lines. Each voice—whether it is interrupting, sympathizing, questioning or supporting—has an important place within the larger conversation.