In his Sextet, Op. 36, Brahms embedded a musical code in the subsidiary theme of the first movement, spelling out 'a-g-a-d-h-e' (Agathe) in the highest violin part, as a monument to his former beloved.
Composition History
Brahms's First String Sextet, Op. 18, was an immediate success upon its completion in 1859-1860 and was highly popular with audiences.
Critical Reception
The G-major Sextet, Op. 36, took a long time to establish itself in the performance repertoire, possibly due to its modern-sounding and harmonically unsettling opening.
Compositional Technique
The string sextet format, with its six string instruments, appealed to Brahms's preference for a full sound and challenged his interest in the orchestral possibilities of chamber music.
Composition History
Johannes Brahms chose to compose string sextets before string quartets, partly to avoid direct comparison with Beethoven's revered string quartets.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, WDR Funkhaus Köln, with the two sextets recorded on separate dates in 2017 and 2018.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms reportedly said of his Sextet, Op. 36, 'Here, I freed myself of my last love,' likely referring to his broken engagement with Agathe von Siebold.
