[HoosierHawk]

Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, friends, and allies.

Classical Music presented on the first Sunday of every month.

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Keyword: firstsundaymusic

[HoosierHawk]

First Sunday Music ping for Brahms.

[SaveTheChief]

These are awesome recordings. Nice choice!

I think my favorite Brahms, and included on my "I would pay someone to be included in a performance of this piece" list, is his German Requiem.

[Borges]

Until 1873 Brahms had written chiefly for the piano, the instrument he knew best, and for chorus and orchestra

Not really correct. The majority of his pre 1873 work was chamber music and songs.

[MaestroLC]

Brahms:

Alto Rhapsody

[MinuteGal]

Ah, another one passing away too early....64. I sure he had many more years of great music in his head and heart that passed with him.

But, I suppose the life expectancy of men in the 1800's was nothing like it is today, alas.

Thanks for your tribute to our military in this post, Hoosier. Very nice.

Leni

[curmudgeonII]

Thank you.

[Publius]

You should check out the Brahms symphonies as recorded by Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players on EMI. Although Brahms left no metronome markings behind, Norrington has tried to piece together the composer's intentions by understanding classical performance traditions as Brahms understood them, not Wagner. What helped Norrington was the testimony of an earwitness who clocked the entire 1st Symphony at 41 minutes without the first movement exposition repeat.

In the first symphony, the speed directions are "Un poco sostenuto" for the introduction, then simply "allegro" for the first subject. The "poco" implies a comparison to the "allegro", which would indicate that the introduction is not to be taken as a dirge, but just "somewhat" slower than "allegro". Norrington takes it at a brisker pace than Solti and others. It's breathtaking -- but not as fast as the first subject!

Norrington also observes the exposition repeat. Brahms does not write a first ending but simply sends you back to the first subject without ceremony. It's one of the most shocking moments in the symphonic literature. (The first time I heard it, I dropped a whole armful of CD's in the Tower Records flagship store in West Hollywood.)

Using a smaller orchestra also helps because it restores the balance in favor of the winds, and having string instruments strung with gut, not steel, makes a difference.

Give them a listen.