Brahms: Sonatas for Piano & Violin on Period Instruments

Featuring

Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch
Tuija Hakkila
Johannes Brahms

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Performer Biography

Tuija Hakkila, the pianist on this album, is a Professor of Piano Music at the Sibelius Academy and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

Historical Context

During the 19th century, chamber music, including sonatas, trios, quartets, and quintets, allowed composers and performers to explore more intimate tones than large orchestras.

Composer Biography

Johannes Brahms was a composer, pianist, conductor, chamber musician, choir conductor, publisher of early music, folk music enthusiast, concert arranger, and advocate for public libraries.

Performer Biography

Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch, the violinist on this album, is a versatile musician who plays music from every era, with an emphasis on the 17th to 19th centuries, and also plays viola and viola d'amore.

Instruments

Brahms owned a piano made by Jean-Baptiste Streicher of Vienna and recommended these instruments, though later in life he requested Bechstein or American Steinway pianos for orchestral performances.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Brahms was highly self-critical and pessimistic, frequently burning manuscripts of what he considered 'idle sketches,' 'youthful sins,' or 'bad' versions of his works.