The First Sextet in B flat major was Brahms's first major chamber work without piano, following a series of failed attempts at string quartets.
Composition History
Brahms's two sextets are early works, predating his string quartets and quintets, which he felt unworthy of publishing until he reached full maturity.
Composition History
Brahms often composed works in pairs, such as the two serenades, the first two symphonies, and the two string sextets on this album.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms, haunted by the shadow of Beethoven, enriched the chamber repertoire throughout his life.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in March 2021 at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria.
Critical Reception
The Second Sextet was not well received at its European premiere in Vienna, with one critic calling it "fuddled, weird musical vexations, which possess neither body nor soul."
Compositional Technique
The first movement of the Second Sextet in G major contains a musical cipher of the name Agathe (A-G-A-D-B-E), referring to Brahms's failed romantic relationship with soprano Agathe von Siebold.
